TY - JOUR
T1 - Thermoregulation during the summer season in the Goode's horned lizard Phrynosoma goodei (Iguania
T2 - Phrynosomatidae) in Sonoran Desert
AU - Lara-Resendiz, Rafael Alejandro
AU - Jezkova, Tereza
AU - Rosen, Philip C.
AU - Méndez-De La Cruz, Fausto Roberto
PY - 2014
Y1 - 2014
N2 - Reptiles in desert environments depend on habitat thermal quality to regulate their body temperature and perform biological activities. Understanding thermoregulation with respect to habitat thermal quality is critical for accurate predictions of species responses to climate change. We evaluated thermoregulation in Goode's horned lizard, Phrynosoma goodei, and measured habitat thermal quality at the Reserva de la Biosfera El Pinacate y Gran Desierto de Altar, Sonora, Mexico, during the hottest season of the year. We found that field-active body temperature averaged 38.1 ± 0.38°C, preferred body temperature in laboratory averaged 34.9 ± 0.18°C and preferred body temperature range was 32.5-37.3°C. Operative temperature (i.e. environmental temperature available to the lizards) averaged 43.0 ± 0.07°C, with maximum temperature being near 70°C, and 62.9% of operative temperatures were above preferred body temperature range of P. goodei. Microhabitat thermal quality occupied by the lizards was high in the morning (7:00-10:30) and afternoon (5:50-dusk). We found that despite strong thermal constraints P. goodei was highly accurate and efficient in regulating its body temperature and that it presented a bimodal thermoregulatory pattern, being active in the mornings and in the evenings in order to avoid high mid-day environmental temperatures. Despite its thermoregulatory ability, P. goodei may be vulnerable to climate warming.
AB - Reptiles in desert environments depend on habitat thermal quality to regulate their body temperature and perform biological activities. Understanding thermoregulation with respect to habitat thermal quality is critical for accurate predictions of species responses to climate change. We evaluated thermoregulation in Goode's horned lizard, Phrynosoma goodei, and measured habitat thermal quality at the Reserva de la Biosfera El Pinacate y Gran Desierto de Altar, Sonora, Mexico, during the hottest season of the year. We found that field-active body temperature averaged 38.1 ± 0.38°C, preferred body temperature in laboratory averaged 34.9 ± 0.18°C and preferred body temperature range was 32.5-37.3°C. Operative temperature (i.e. environmental temperature available to the lizards) averaged 43.0 ± 0.07°C, with maximum temperature being near 70°C, and 62.9% of operative temperatures were above preferred body temperature range of P. goodei. Microhabitat thermal quality occupied by the lizards was high in the morning (7:00-10:30) and afternoon (5:50-dusk). We found that despite strong thermal constraints P. goodei was highly accurate and efficient in regulating its body temperature and that it presented a bimodal thermoregulatory pattern, being active in the mornings and in the evenings in order to avoid high mid-day environmental temperatures. Despite its thermoregulatory ability, P. goodei may be vulnerable to climate warming.
KW - Sonora
KW - arid zone
KW - climate change
KW - hot season
KW - operative temperature
KW - phrynosomatid
KW - thermal efficiency
KW - thermal quality
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U2 - 10.1163/15685381-00002938
DO - 10.1163/15685381-00002938
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84902476171
VL - 35
SP - 161
EP - 172
JO - Amphibia - Reptilia
JF - Amphibia - Reptilia
SN - 0173-5373
IS - 2
ER -