Town and Country Reptiles: A Review of Reptilian Responses to Urbanization

Integrative and Comparative Biology, Journal Year: 2018, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: May 30, 2018

The majority of the world population is now inhabiting urban areas, and with staggering growth, urbanization also increasing. While work studying effects changing landscapes specific pressures on wildlife beginning to amass, this focuses avian or mammalian species. However, likely vary substantially across taxonomic groups due differences in habitat requirements life history. current article aims first broaden review reptilian species; second, summarize responses fauna features; third, assess directionality individual level reptile Based our findings, research taxa lacking following areas: (1) investigating interactive additive factors, (2) measuring multiple morphological, behavioral, physiological endpoints within an animal, (3) linking population-level responses, (4) testing genetic/genomic environment as evidence for selective pressures.

Language: Английский

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Thermal spikes from the urban heat island increase mortality and alter physiology of lizard embryos

Journal of Experimental Biology, Journal Year: 2018, Volume and Issue: 221(14)

Published: July 15, 2018

ABSTRACT Effects of global change (i.e. urbanization, climate change) on adult organisms are readily used to predict the persistence populations. However, effects embryo survival and patterns development less studied, even though embryos particularly sensitive abiotic conditions that altered by (e.g. temperature). In reptiles, relatively warm incubation temperatures increase developmental rate often enhance fitness-relevant phenotypes, but extremely high cause death. Due urban heat island effect, human-altered habitats cities) potentially create unusually nest differ from adjacent natural areas in both mean extreme temperatures. Such variation may exert selection pressures embryos. To address this, we measured soil places where Puerto Rican crested anole lizard (Anolis cristatellus) nests city forest habitats. We bred anoles laboratory subjected their eggs five treatments mimicked temperature regimes field, three which included brief exposure thermal spikes) city. monitored growth hatchlings for 3 months found warmer, rate, brief, spikes reduce survival. Hatchling were unaffected treatment. The landscape can influence at early embryo) late life stages. Thus, research aimed quantifying impacts urbanization wildlife populations must include multiple stages gain a comprehensive understanding this important aspect change.

Language: Английский

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Miami heat: Urban heat islands influence the thermal suitability of habitats for ectotherms

Global Change Biology, Journal Year: 2018, Volume and Issue: 25(2), P. 562 - 576

Published: Nov. 2, 2018

The urban heat island effect, where areas exhibit higher temperatures than less-developed suburban and natural habitats, occurs in cities across the globe is well understood from a physical perspective at broad spatial scales. However, very little known about how thermal variation caused by urbanization influences ability of organisms to live cities. Ectotherms are sensitive environmental changes that affect conditions, therefore, increased may pose significant challenges thermoregulation alter temperature-dependent activity. To evaluate whether these environment persistence dispersal ectothermic species areas, we studied two Anolis lizards (Anolis cristatellus sagrei) introduced Miami-Dade County, FL, USA, they occur both habitats. We calculated canopy openness measured operative temperature (Te ), which estimates distribution body non-thermoregulating population, four sites. also captured throughout day recorded their internal (Tb ). found had more open canopies Te compared Laboratory trials showed A. preferred lower sagrei. Urban sites currently occupied each appear thermoregulatory costs for species, but only sagreihad field Tb were often within range habitats areas. Furthermore, based on available species' range, with sagrei less suitable cristatellus, whereas These results highlight properties contribute patterns dispersal, particularly relevant studying invasions worldwide.

Language: Английский

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The role of climate change and niche shifts in divergent range dynamics of a sister-species pair

Peer Community Journal, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 3

Published: March 9, 2023

Species ranges are set by limitations in factors including climate tolerances, habitat use, and dispersal abilities. Understanding the governing species range dynamics remains a challenge that is ever more important our rapidly changing world. can shift if environmental changes affect available habitat, or niche connectivity of changes. We tested how availability, niche, could contribute to divergent sister-species pair. The great-tailed grackle (Quiscalus mexicanus) has expanded its northward from Texas Nebraska past 40 years, while closest relative, boat-tailed major), remained tied coasts Atlantic Ocean Gulf Mexico as well interior Florida. created distribution models trained on citizen science data 1970-1979 2010-2019 determine availability types occupied, range-wide have changed for both species. found two occupy distinct habitats shifted larger breadth urban, arid environments farther natural water sources. Meanwhile, limited warm, wet, coastal environments. no evidence affected either Overall, results suggest realized part rapid expansion, may be shaped change. expansion occupied consistent with observations high behavioral flexibility expand their geographic using human-altered habitat. This investigation identifies opposite responses anthropogenic change drive dynamics, elucidating will continue shape ranges.

Language: Английский

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Human land use promotes the abundance and diversity of exotic species on Caribbean islands

Global Change Biology, Journal Year: 2018, Volume and Issue: 24(10), P. 4784 - 4796

Published: May 31, 2018

Abstract Human land use causes major changes in species abundance and composition, yet native exotic can exhibit different responses to change. Native populations generally decline human‐impacted habitats while often benefit. In this study, we assessed the effects of human on reptile diversity, including functional which relates range habitat strategies biotic communities. We surveyed 114 communities from localities that varied structure impact level two Caribbean islands, calculated richness, overall abundance, evenness for every plot. Functional diversity indices were using published trait data, enabled us detect signs filtering associated with impacted habitats. Our results show environmental variation among sampling plots was explained by Principal Component Analysis ( PCA ) ordination axes related (i.e., forest or nonforest) addition man‐made constructions such as roads buildings). Several significantly correlated axes, but showed opposing responses. reached highest forests, absent habitat. an increase no significant associations. nonforested environments both further increased St. Martin establishment functionally unique Habitat structure, rather than impact, proved be important agent traits, causing divergent values across forested environments. illustrate importance considering various elements when studying its spread species.

Language: Английский

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Body size and reproduction of a non-native lizard are enhanced in an urban environment

Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, Journal Year: 2017, Volume and Issue: 122(4), P. 860 - 871

Published: Sept. 6, 2017

Growth and body size are influenced by the environment each have consequences for reproduction and, thus, fitness. Anthropogenically altered habitats (i.e. cities) create novel conditions that may enhance or reduce fitness via environmentally induced changes in growth size. By comparing urban natural habitats, we can quantify effects of human-modified landscapes on fauna increase our general understanding responses to environments. We collected lizards, Anolis cristatellus (Duméril & Bibron, 1837), from adjacent forested areas, bred them lab under common conditions, measured size, latency oviposition, fecundity egg female hatchlings over 3 months. Female lizards city were larger, had a greater condition index at beginning breeding season started laying eggs sooner than those forest, which increased their fecundity. Females but not city, improved during study, so infer environments maximize anoles. Moreover, mothers higher rates forest suggesting differences be due intrinsic factors. Thus, conclude some vertebrate ectotherms.

Language: Английский

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Behavioral shifts with urbanization may facilitate biological invasion of a widespread lizard

Urban Ecosystems, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 22(3), P. 425 - 434

Published: Jan. 11, 2019

Language: Английский

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Lizard nest environments differ between suburban and forest habitats

Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, Journal Year: 2018, Volume and Issue: 126(3), P. 392 - 403

Published: Dec. 29, 2018

Abstract Nesting success is critical for oviparous species to maintain viable populations. Many often do not provide parental care (e.g. reptiles), so embryos are left develop in the prevailing conditions of nest. For that occupy diverse habitats, must be able complete development across a broad range environmental conditions. Although much research has investigated how influence embryo development, we know little about nest differ between habitats. Anolis lizards commonly found various habitats including those heavily modified by humans cities). We describe sites anoles two different habitat types: suburban area and nearby forest. The had less total nesting but greater variety microenvironment females use nesting, compared Suburban nests were warmer drier with thermal variance forest nests. Finally, data from literature predict may development. Our study provides first quantitative assessment anole human-modified environments shows generate variation developmental rate.

Language: Английский

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Urbanization affects body size and parasitism but not thermal preferences inAnolislizards

Journal of Urban Ecology, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 5(1)

Published: Jan. 1, 2019

Urbanization is accelerating worldwide and creates novel habitat conditions including increases in environmental temperature changes presence abundance of predators, prey parasites. For species that use urban habitats, these can have strong impacts on phenotypes. Anolis lizards commonly exploit habitats and, as ectotherms, are likely to experience pressures from environments. Previous research shows anoles may adapt some aspects but we lack an understanding the breadth traits shift response urbanization how widespread be. To assess effects anole phenotypes, measured morphology, thermal preference parasitism brown (Anolis sagrei) crested cristatellus) natural within Miami metropolitan area (FL, USA). In areas, individuals both were larger, did not show any differences preferred body temperatures. These results agree with other studies showing increased size inhabiting mechanisms underlying this pattern unclear. Brown experienced higher levels parasite infection intensity showed no between sites. Increased suggests exploiting costs lead species-specific ecologically similar congeners. Understanding alter phenotypes organisms areas will be important predicting adaptive responses future urbanization.

Language: Английский

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Evolution of a Model System: New Insights from the Study of Anolis Lizards

Annual Review of Ecology Evolution and Systematics, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 54(1), P. 475 - 503

Published: Aug. 22, 2023

Following decades of intensive study, Anolis lizards have emerged as a biological model system. We review how new research on anoles has advanced our understanding ecology and evolution, challenging long-standing paradigms opening areas inquiry. Recent anole reveals changes in behavior can restructure ecological communities both stimulate stymie sometimes simultaneously. Likewise, investigation spatial or phylogenetic evolutionary experiments documented repeatability across spatiotemporal scales, while also illuminating its limits. Current places promising for Anthropocene biology, with recent work illustrating species respond humans reconfigure natural habitats, alter the climate, create novel environments through urbanization introduction. Combined ongoing methodological developments genomics, phylogenetics, ecology, growing foundational knowledge positions them powerful system evolution years to come.

Language: Английский

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