Microhabitat Use and Thermal Ecology of Two Narrowly Sympatric Sceloporus (Phrynosomatidae) Lizards

1996 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 152 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark C. Grover
Keyword(s):  
Microhabitat Use ◽  
Thermal Ecology

Thermal Ecology of Habitat and Microhabitat Use by Sympatric Varanus bengalensis and V. salvator in Sri Lanka

Copeia ◽  
1993 ◽  
Vol 1993 (3) ◽  
pp. 709 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric D. Wikramanayake ◽  
Gil L. Dryden
Keyword(s):  
Sri Lanka ◽  
Microhabitat Use ◽  
Thermal Ecology

scholarly journals Thermal ecology of the federally endangered blunt-nosed leopard lizard (Gambelia sila)

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathleen N Ivey ◽  
Margaret Cornwall ◽  
Hayley Crowell ◽  
Nargol Ghazian ◽  
Emmeleia Nix ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Endangered Species ◽  
Thermal Tolerance ◽  
Microhabitat Use ◽  
Thermal Ecology ◽  
Body Temperatures ◽  
Ambient Temperatures ◽  
Open Habitat ◽  
Kangaroo Rat ◽  
Upper Thermal Tolerance

Abstract Recognizing how climate change will impact populations can aid in making decisions about approaches for conservation of endangered species. The blunt-nosed leopard lizard (Gambelia sila) is a federally endangered species that, despite protection, remains in extremely arid, hot areas and may be at risk of extirpation due to climate change. We collected data on the field-active body temperatures, preferred body temperatures and upper thermal tolerance of G. sila. We then described available thermal habitat using biophysical models, which allowed us to (i) describe patterns in lizard body temperatures, microhabitat temperatures and lizard microhabitat use; (ii) quantify the lizards’ thermoregulatory accuracy; (iii) calculate the number of hours they are currently thermally restricted in microhabitat use; (iv) project how the number of restricted hours will change in the future as ambient temperatures rise; and (v) assess the importance of giant kangaroo rat burrows and shade-providing shrubs in the current and projected future thermal ecology of G. sila. Lizards maintained fairly consistent daytime body temperatures over the course of the active season, and use of burrows and shrubs increased as the season progressed and ambient temperatures rose. During the hottest part of the year, lizards shuttled among kangaroo rat burrows, shrubs, and open habitat to maintain body temperatures below their upper thermal tolerance, but, occasionally, higher than their preferred body temperature range. Lizards are restricted from staying in the open habitat for 75% of daylight hours and are forced to seek refuge under shrubs or burrows to avoid surpassing their upper thermal threshold. After applying climatic projections of 1 and 2°C increases to 2018 ambient temperatures, G. sila will lose additional hours of activity time that could compound stressors faced by this population, potentially leading to extirpation.

How morphology and thermal ecology relates to diurnal microhabitat use and selection across seasons in two habitats of the nocturnal Tarentola delalandii from Tenerife

2019 ◽  
Vol 40 (4) ◽  
pp. 487-498
Author(s):  
María de Fuentes-Fernández ◽  
Ma Mercedes Suárez-Rancel ◽  
Miguel Molina-Borja
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Microhabitat Use ◽  
Thermal Ecology ◽  
Adult Males ◽  
Selective Pressures ◽  
Microhabitat Choice ◽  
Body Sizes ◽  
Contrasting Habitats ◽  
Lower Temperature ◽  
Relationship Of

Abstract Many selective pressures modulate microhabitat choice of ectotherms, such as temperature, humidity and habitat heterogeneity, and these vary in space and time. Here we analysed: 1) microhabitat selection comparing characteristics of stones (and their surroundings) under which geckos (Tarentola delalandii, mainly nocturnal) were found during the day with that of stones selected randomly; 2) relationship of a measure of body size to microhabitat characteristics (stone and herb covers, etc., and temperature/humidity) and cloacal temperature of males, females and juveniles from two contrasting habitats of Tenerife (northern and southern localities) and in two periods of the year (Spring-Summer and Autumn-Winter). In comparison with randomly selected stones, geckos significantly selected stones with lower temperature in the Spring-Summer and microhabitats with high stone cover. Gecko size was significantly larger in the Northern than in the Southern locality, in spring – summer than in autumn – winter and in males than in females. In both populations and time periods, the largest body sizes were significantly associated with higher environmental and shelter temperatures and with low values of humidity and stone cover. Cloacal and shelter temperatures were positively and significantly related; at higher values of the latter, juveniles attained significantly higher temperatures than adult males but lower than that of females. Larger body size was associated with high shrub and leaf litter covers and high values of shelter dimensions. Therefore, we suggest that in relation to their body sizes, geckos seem to select their shelters considering specific microhabitat characteristics surrounding them that may provide thermoregulatory and/or antipredator profits.

Seasonal Variation in Thermal Ecology and Microhabitat Use of Anolis carlliebi (Squamata: Dactyloidae) from a Xeric Scrubland in Central Mexico

2021 ◽  
Vol 109 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
César A. Díaz-Marín ◽  
Ricardo Luría-Manzano ◽  
Guadalupe Gutiérrez-Mayén ◽  
Aurelio Ramírez-Bautista
Keyword(s):  
Seasonal Variation ◽  
Central Mexico ◽  
Microhabitat Use ◽  
Thermal Ecology

The Metabolic Theory of Ecology

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew Clarke
Keyword(s):  
Metabolic Rate ◽  
Resting Metabolic Rate ◽  
Effect Of Temperature ◽  
Thermal Ecology ◽  
Model Data ◽  
Metabolic Theory ◽  
Physical Explanation ◽  
Boltzmann Factor ◽  
Scaling Exponents ◽  
Metabolic Theory Of Ecology

The model of West, Brown & Enquist (WBE) is built on the assumption that the metabolic rate of cells is determined by the architecture of the vascular network that supplies them with oxygen and nutrients. For a fractal-like network, and assuming that evolution has minimised cardiovascular costs, the WBE model predicts that s=metabolism should scale with mass with an exponent, b, of 0.75 at infinite size, and ~ 0.8 at realistic larger sizes. Scaling exponents ~ 0.75 for standard or resting metabolic rate are observed widely, but far from universally, including in some invertebrates with cardiovascular systems very different from that assumed in the WBE model. Data for field metabolic rate in vertebrates typically exhibit b ~ 0.8, which matches the WBE prediction. Addition of a simple Boltzmann factor to capture the effects of body temperature on metabolic rate yields the central equation of the Metabolic Theory of Ecology (MTE). The MTE has become an important strand in ecology, and the WBE model is the most widely accepted physical explanation for the scaling of metabolic rate with body mass. Capturing the effect of temperature through a Boltzmann factor is a useful statistical description but too simple to qualify as a complete physical theory of thermal ecology.

Introduction

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew Clarke
Keyword(s):  
Physical Mechanism ◽  
Thermal Ecology ◽  
Evolutionary Processes ◽  
Physical Mechanisms ◽  
The Subject

This introduces the subject, laying out the organisation of the book and emphasising the importance of both simple underlying physical mechanisms and evolutionary variability to thermal ecology. It distinguishes physical mechanism from statistical description, and the importance of evolutionary processes in comparisons across species.

scholarly journals Quantifying Southern Pacific Rattlesnake (Crotalus oreganus helleri) Hunting Behavior through Community Science

Diversity ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (8) ◽  
pp. 349
Author(s):  
Emily R. Urquidi ◽  
Breanna J. Putman
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Loss ◽  
Human Activity ◽  
Age Differences ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Microhabitat Use ◽  
Ontogenetic Shift ◽  
Community Members ◽  
Hunting Behavior ◽  
Crotalus Oreganus ◽  
Community Science

It is increasingly important to study animal behaviors as these are the first responses organisms mount against environmental changes. Rattlesnakes, in particular, are threatened by habitat loss and human activity, and require costly tracking by researchers to quantify the behaviors of wild individuals. Here, we show how photo-vouchered observations submitted by community members can be used to study cryptic predators like rattlesnakes. We utilized two platforms, iNaturalist and HerpMapper, to study the hunting behaviors of wild Southern Pacific Rattlesnakes. From 220 observation photos, we quantified the direction of the hunting coil (i.e., “handedness”), microhabitat use, timing of observations, and age of the snake. With these data, we looked at whether snakes exhibited an ontogenetic shift in behaviors. We found no age differences in coil direction. However, there was a difference in the microhabitats used by juveniles and adults while hunting. We also found that juveniles were most commonly observed during the spring, while adults were more consistently observed throughout the year. Overall, our study shows the potential of using community science to study the behaviors of cryptic predators.

Microhabitat use of different age groups of snake-eyed skink and Eastern green lizard

2016 ◽  
Vol 37 (2) ◽  
pp. 191-198 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dániel Kovács ◽  
István Kiss
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Management ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Carpathian Basin ◽  
Microhabitat Use ◽  
Forest Edges ◽  
Environmental Niche ◽  
The Balkans ◽  
Natural Grasslands ◽  
Lacerta Viridis ◽  
First Time

Although Ablepharus kitaibelii and its subspecies are wide-spread, being distributed from the Carpathian Basin through the Balkans to Iraq, their habitat and environmental niche is poorly known. Ablepharus kitaibelii fitzingeri is almost entirely limited to the Carpathian Basin, and is amongst the most strictly protected and least known reptiles of Central and Eastern Europe. The main aim of our study was to determine habitat use preferences of different age groups of A. kitaibelii fitzingeri and Lacerta viridis. The occurrence of green lizard was determined by the abundance of refugia rather than by the naturalness of grasslands. The snake-eyed skink prefers semi-natural grasslands with abundant tussock-forming grass or sedge species, avoiding densely shrubby places. For the first time, we show that woodland mosaics lacking shrubs and temporary grasslands next to forest edges are important for the species. Microhabitat use by snake-eyed skink varies with age group; adults preferring shady edge zones rich in leaf litter and shadier grassland spots provided by woodland mosaics, whereas juveniles were found in natural, more open grasslands far from forest edges and in woodland mosaics with dense shrubby understory. Our results contribute to a better understanding of the ecological needs of A. kitaibelii fitzingeri. Our methodology could be adapted to other species and subspecies of Ablepharus. Based on our results, it is important to reconsider habitat management activities, which should not be limited to shrub control: the main goal should be the development of a diverse habitat structure.

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