The thermal ecology and physiology of reptiles and amphibians: A user's guide

Journal of Experimental Zoology Part A Ecological and Integrative Physiology, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 335(1), P. 13 - 44

Published: July 8, 2020

Abstract Research on the thermal ecology and physiology of free‐living organisms is accelerating as scientists managers recognize urgency global biodiversity crisis brought by climate change. As ectotherms, temperature fundamentally affects most aspects lives amphibians reptiles, making them excellent models for studying how animals are impacted changing temperatures. research this group accelerates, it essential to maintain consistent optimal methodology so that results can be compared across groups over time. This review addresses utility reptiles model studies reviewing best practices their physiology, highlighting key have advanced field with new improved methods. We end presenting several areas where show great promise further advancing our understanding relations between environments

Language: Английский

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Can nesting behaviour allow reptiles to adapt to climate change?

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 378(1884)

Published: July 10, 2023

A range of abiotic parameters within a reptile nest influence the viability and attributes (including sex, behaviour body size) hatchlings that emerge from nest. As result sensitivity, reproducing female can manipulate phenotypic her offspring by laying eggs at times in places provide specific conditions. Nesting reptiles shift their terms timing oviposition, location depth beneath soil surface across spatial temporal gradients. Those maternal manipulations affect mean values variances both temperature moisture, may modify vulnerability embryos to threats such as predation parasitism. By altering thermal hydric conditions nests, climate change has potential dramatically developmental trajectories survival rates embryos, phenotypes hatchlings. Reproducing females buffer effects modifying timing, structure nests ways enhance viability. Nonetheless, our understanding nesting behaviours response remains limited reptiles. Priority topics for future studies include documenting climate-induced changes environment, degree which behavioural shifts mitigate climate-related deleterious impacts on development, ecological evolutionary consequences responses change. This article is part theme issue ‘The ecology nests: cross-taxon approach’.

Language: Английский

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Latitudinal embryonic thermal tolerance and plasticity shape the vulnerability of oviparous species to climate change

Ecological Monographs, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 91(3)

Published: May 13, 2021

Abstract Heat tolerance at the immobile embryonic stage is expected to be critical in determining species vulnerability climate change. However, how mean and developmental plasticity of heat vary geographically, these geographic variations affect species' under change remain unknown. We experimentally determined acute (EAHT, i.e., shock temperature which heartbeats ceased) for three latitudinally distributed populations an oviparous lacertid lizard. The experimental results suggested that EAHT decreased with decreasing latitude reaction norms relation temperatures showed “flat,” “bell‐shaped,” “decreasing” patterns high, medium, low latitudes, respectively. Based on means weather data across China, we project stress frequency would increase from present future toward latitudes. Furthermore, becomes more extensive incorporation plasticity. Incorporating during development season, frequency, variables a distribution model projects suitable habitats could move northward response ongoing shrink due loss southern habitat. Moreover, even lizards within areas are predicted highly experience increases over time, particularly medium Our study reveals variation highlights its importance predicting range shifts

Language: Английский

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Heat tolerance of reptile embryos: Current knowledge, methodological considerations, and future directions

Journal of Experimental Zoology Part A Ecological and Integrative Physiology, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 335(1), P. 45 - 58

Published: Aug. 5, 2020

Abstract Aspects of global change result in warming temperatures that threaten biodiversity across the planet. Eggs non‐avian, oviparous reptiles (henceforth “reptiles”) are particularly vulnerable to due a lack parental care during incubation and limited ability behaviorally thermoregulate. Because will cause increases both mean variance nest temperatures, it is crucial consider embryo responses chronic acute heat stress. Although many studies have considered survival constant (i.e., stress) response brief exposure extreme stress), there no standard metrics or terminology for determining stress embryos. This impedes comparisons species hinders our predict how respond change. In this review, we compare various methods been used assess embryonic tolerance provide new quantifying We apply these recommendations data from literature 16 squamates, turtles, five crocodilians, tuatara nine squamates one turtle. Our results indicate relatively large variation species, outline directions future research, calling more thermal stress, integrate predictive models, identify mechanisms determine tolerance.

Language: Английский

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Thermal sensitivity of lizard embryos indicates a mismatch between oxygen supply and demand at near‐lethal temperatures

Journal of Experimental Zoology Part A Ecological and Integrative Physiology, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 335(1), P. 72 - 85

Published: April 16, 2020

Aspects of global change create stressful thermal environments that threaten biodiversity. Oviparous, non-avian reptiles have received considerable attention because eggs are left to develop under prevailing conditions, leaving developing embryos vulnerable increases in temperature. Though many studies assess embryo responses long-term (i.e., chronic), constant incubation temperatures, few acute exposures which more relevant for species. We subjected brown anole (Anolis sagrei) heat shocks, ramps, and extreme diurnal fluctuations determine the lethal temperature embryos, measure sensitivity heart rate metabolism, quantify effects sublethal but temperatures on development hatchling phenotypes survival. Most died at shocks 45°C or 46°C, is ~12°C warmer than highest suitable successful development. Heart O2 consumption increased with temperature; however, as approached temperature, CO2 production continued rising while plateaued. These data indicate a mismatch between oxygen supply demand high temperatures. Exposure extreme, depressed developmental rates rates, resulted hatchlings smaller body size, reduced growth lower survival laboratory. Thus, even brief exposure can important development, our study highlights role both immediate cumulative egg Such must be considered predict how populations will respond change.

Language: Английский

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Ecologically relevant thermal fluctuations enhance offspring fitness: biological and methodological implications for studies of thermal developmental plasticity

Journal of Experimental Biology, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Jan. 1, 2020

Natural thermal environments are notably complex and challenging to mimic in controlled studies. Consequently, our understanding of the ecological relevance underlying mechanisms organismal responses is often limited. For example, studies developmental plasticity have provided key insights into consequences temperature variation, but most laboratory use treatments that do not reflect natural regimes. While controlling other important factors, we compared effects naturally fluctuating temperatures with those commonly used regimes on development lizard embryos offspring phenotypes survival. We incubated eggs four treatments: three followed procedures literature, one precisely mimicked nest temperatures. To explore context-dependent effects, replicated these across two seasonal regimes: relatively cool from nests constructed early season warm late-season nests. show fluctuations a small effect variables enhance hatchling performance survival at cooler Thus, for successful simpler approximations (e.g. repeated sine waves, constant temperatures) may poorly systems under some conditions. benefits replicating real-world outweigh logistical costs. Although patterns might vary according study system research goals, methodological approach demonstrates importance incorporating variation provides biologists interested ecology framework validating effectiveness methods.

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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The Future of Invasion Science Needs Physiology

BioScience, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 72(12), P. 1204 - 1219

Published: Oct. 5, 2022

Abstract Incorporating physiology into models of population dynamics will improve our understanding how and why invasions succeed cause ecological impacts, whereas others fail or remain innocuous. Targeting both organismal physiologists invasion scientists, we detail physiological processes affect every stage, for plants animals, data can be better used studying the spatial effects invasive species. We suggest six steps to quantify functions related demography nonnative species: justifying traits interest, determining ecologically appropriate time frames, identifying relevant abiotic variables, designing experimental treatments that capture covariation between measuring responses these fitting statistical data. also provide brief guidance on approaches modeling invasions. Finally, emphasize benefits integrating research communities scientists.

Language: Английский

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Survival of lizard eggs varies with microhabitat in the presence of an invertebrate nest predator

Evolutionary Ecology, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 34(4), P. 483 - 499

Published: June 19, 2020

Language: Английский

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Communal egg‐laying behaviour and the consequences of egg aggregation in the brown anole (Anolis sagrei)

Ethology, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 126(7), P. 751 - 760

Published: April 27, 2020

Abstract Communal nesting is a behaviour that involves multiple females laying eggs in the same nest or site. This may be consequence of shortage preferable sites (constraint hypothesis) an adaptation generated by fitness benefits associated with egg aggregation (adaptive hypothesis). Experimental tests these hypotheses require information about maternal site choice and its consequences. To address these, we studied lizard (brown anole; Anolis sagrei ) produces single‐egg clutches, but often aggregates sites. In lab study, were given option (a) soil previously used as substrate vs. fresh (b) eggshells without eggshells. We also experimentally examined effects incubating singly, groups four, nine. recorded surface temperature, water uptake, hatchling morphology. Females more likely to pots than observed no on survival, most measures However, singly‐incubated absorbed incubated four nine aggregations this resulted offspring greater body condition (i.e. heavier for their length) at hatching. The behavioural experiment demonstrates actively choose have been (as expected under adaptive hypothesis), egg‐aggregation shows based variables measured. Thus, results study support hypothesis; however, from our egg‐incubation do not. Likely, constraint are not mutually exclusive, diversity factors influence evolution communal behaviour.

Language: Английский

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