Microhabitat humidity rather than food availability drives thermo‐hydroregulation responses to drought in a lizard

Oikos, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 2024(6)

Published: April 5, 2024

The regulation of energy, water and thermal balance involves integrated processes that should drive ecological responses ectotherms to climate change. Functional tradeoffs between thermoregulation hydroregulation are exacerbated during hot or dry spells, but how microhabitat hydric properties trophic resource availability influence these remains unknown. Here, we investigated the effects humidity food on thermo‐hydroregulation strategies in ground‐dwelling common lizard Zootoca vivipara a simulated spell event. We exposed lizards five‐day long acute restriction conditions laboratory manipulated quality retreat site (wet shelter) as well (ad libitum deprivation). Water deprivation caused physiological such muscle catabolism mobilization caudal energy reserves. Lizards also developed behavioural conserve via decreased effort, higher shelter use increased eye closure behaviours through time. These changes were importantly buffered by presence wet not availability. A reduced conflicts hydroregulation, allowed maintain better condition dehydration. Instead, intake did play major role hydration state hydroregulation. consideration is required address ectotherm future

Language: Английский

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Ecological responses of squamate reptiles to nocturnal warming

Biological reviews/Biological reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 99(2), P. 598 - 621

Published: Dec. 7, 2023

ABSTRACT Nocturnal temperatures are increasing at a pace exceeding diurnal in most parts of the world. The role warmer nocturnal animal ecology has received scant attention and studies focus on or daily descriptors thermal environments' temporal trends. Yet, available evidence from plant insect suggests that organisms can exhibit contrasting physiological responses to warming. Limiting trends thus result incomplete misleading interpretations ability species cope with global Although they expected be impacted by temperatures, insufficient data regarding night‐time vertebrate ectotherms. Here, we illustrate complex effects warming squamate reptiles, keystone group Our review includes discussion ectotherms, but mainly for which affects period dedicated recovery, may perturb activity patterns energy balance. We first summarise physical consequences habitats used reptiles. Second, describe how such changes alter balance species. this empirical asp viper ( Vipera aspis ) common wall lizard Podarcis muralis ), two found throughout western Europe. Third, make use mechanistic approach based an energy‐balance model draw general conclusions about temperatures. Fourth, examine nights affect squamates over their lifetime, potential individual fitness population dynamics. quantitative lifetime using recent derived range European Zootoca vivipara ). Finally, consider broader eco‐evolutionary ramifications highlight several research questions require future attention. work emphasises importance considering joint influence ectotherms climate

Language: Английский

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A multi‐trait evaluation of patterns and fitness consequences of breeding phenology plasticity with nocturnal warming and food restriction in a lizard

Functional Ecology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: March 19, 2025

Abstract Faced with climate warming, ectothermic species shift their breeding phenology, which is in part attributed to an acceleration of gestation or incubation warmer environments. Thermal may have important fitness implications for females and offspring by impacting maternal homeostasis, embryonic development hatching date, but these benefits costs been poorly documented. In addition, while change characterised a stronger trend night‐time than daytime warming concurrent alterations food availability, few studies quantified phenology‐trait effects increasing nocturnal temperatures decreasing intake. Here, we exposed female common lizards ( Zootoca vivipara ) contrasted prey availability during gestation. We investigated multiple traits quantify the functional impacts on condition, physiology behaviour, current reproductive output both life‐history traits. Nocturnal advanced parturition dates, restriction further accelerated females' muscle catabolism under moderate warming. had negative increased physiological imbalances females. Hot down‐regulated basal corticosterone levels immunocompetence, reduced antioxidant capacity The thermal induced positive related fitness, such as endurance at birth body growth first months life. By analysing traits, our study provides integrated understanding intra‐ intergenerational resource viviparous ectotherm. Our results underline importance considering factors causing ectotherm reproduction. They also show need consider phenological advances order improve consequences changes context change. Read free Plain Language Summary this article Journal blog.

Language: Английский

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Warm nocturnal temperatures act as an ecological trap for a diurnal lizard

Oikos, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: April 7, 2025

The effects of increasing nighttime temperatures remain underexplored, despite that nocturnal are rising at a faster rate than diurnal and expected to negatively impact fitness‐relevant physiological processes such as clearing metabolic wastes, repairing cellular damage, growth. An initial response warming environments is behavioral thermoregulation, which enables ectotherms rapidly adjust changing conditions. responses warmer temperature have been well‐documented; however, little known about thermoregulation. In this study, we experimentally assessed the elevated on retreat site selection thermoregulation strategies in common wall lizard Podarcis muralis . Using semi‐natural mesocosms, exposed adult male lizards two distinct treatments (control versus ~ 4°C increase) recorded their body continuously over weeks with wearable loggers. Lizards treatment selected retreats exhibited significant among‐individual variation choice. Furthermore, there was no shift compensate for exposure. warm suffered greater reduction condition by end experiment, suggesting does not mitigate costs. This study confirms potential create an ecological trap species: will select when available night, these behaviors being potentially maladaptive. Our findings underscore need further research long‐term impacts fitness adaptive limits plastic ectotherms.

Language: Английский

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Decreased food intake as a fecundity-dependent cost of reproduction in keelback snakes ( Tropidonophis mairii , Colubridae)

Royal Society Open Science, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 12(4)

Published: April 1, 2025

The physical burden of pregnancy may render females slower and less able to evade predation, favouring a reduction in feeding order avoid survivorship. Life-history theory predicts that an organism’s optimal level investment into reproduction depends upon whether or not the associated ‘costs’ (such as decrease rate feeding) increase with higher fecundity. Anorexia during is widespread among snakes, but there are few field data on fecundity-dependence such costs. Over 23-year period, we recorded reproductive condition status (based palpation production faeces) for 3778 captures free-ranging female natricine colubrid snakes (keelbacks, Tropidonophis mairii ) tropical Australia. Pregnancy reduced rates, was greatest (clutch mass relative maternal mass). Our long-term provide first clear-cut evidence fecundity-dependent costs snakes.

Language: Английский

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Hydrothermal physiology and vulnerability to climatic change: insight from European vipers

Journal of Thermal Biology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 129, P. 104115 - 104115

Published: April 1, 2025

Language: Английский

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Interdisciplinary approach to solve unusual mortalities in the European common frog (Rana temporaria) in two high-mountain ponds affected by climate change

Environmental Research, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 222, P. 115411 - 115411

Published: Feb. 2, 2023

Language: Английский

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Prey consumption does not restore hydration state but mitigates the energetic costs of water deprivation in an insectivorous lizard

Journal of Experimental Biology, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 226(17)

Published: Aug. 14, 2023

To cope with limited availability of drinking water in their environment, terrestrial animals have developed numerous behavioral and physiological strategies including maintaining an optimal hydration state through dietary intake. Recent studies performed snakes, which are generalist carnivorous reptiles, suggest that the benefits intake negated by hydric costs digestion. Most lizards insectivores can shift prey types, but firm experimental demonstration is currently missing these organisms. Here, we study common lizard Zootoca vivipara, a keystone mesopredator from temperate climates exhibiting great diversity its mesic habitats, order to investigate effects food consumption type on responses deprivation. Our results indicate cannot improve consumption, irrespective type, suggesting they primarily dependent upon water. Yet, high-quality reduced energetic deprivation, potentially helping conserve better body condition during periods availability. These findings important implications for understanding ectotherms stress, highlight complex interactions between status, energy metabolism feeding behavior insectivorous lizards.

Language: Английский

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Inferring current and Last Glacial Maximum distributions are improved by physiology‐relevant climatic variables in cold‐adapted ectotherms

Journal of Biogeography, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 51(8), P. 1400 - 1415

Published: March 14, 2024

Abstract Aim Ecological niche‐based models (ENM) frequently rely on bioclimatic variables (BioV) to reconstruct biogeographic scenarios for species evolution, ignoring mechanistic relations. We tested if climatic predictors relevant hydric and thermal physiology better proximate distribution patterns support location of Pleistocene refugia derived from phylogeographic studies. Location The Western Palaearctic. Taxon Vipera berus Zootoca vivipara , two cold‐adapted species. Methods used sets variables, that is physiologically meaningful (PMV) BioV, in a multi‐algorithm ENM approach, compare their ability predict current Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) ranges. estimated LGM permafrost extent address spatially the cold hardiness dissimilarity between both Results PMV explained more accurately these identified importance summer temperature solar radiation constrain activity habitats. also provide insight than BioV distribution. By including notably, extent, PMV‐based gave parsimonious putative arrangement validity each clade subclade accordance with data. Northern were 48 52° N V. 50 54° Z. . Main Conclusions Our hybrid approach based generated realistic predictions (biogeographical validation) past distributions (phylogeographic validation). combining constraints during period (summer niche) those inherent wintering (freeze tolerance), we managed identify glacial refuges agreement hypotheses concerning post‐glacial routes colonization scenarios.

Language: Английский

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Combining forest exploitation and heathland biodiversity: Edges structure drives microclimates quality and reptile abundance in a coniferous plantation

Forest Ecology and Management, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 544, P. 121188 - 121188

Published: June 16, 2023

Language: Английский

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