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Field-Based Thermal Physiology Assay: Cold Shock Recovery under Ambient Conditions
Published on: March 9, 2021
Why tropical forest lizards are vulnerable to climate warming
Raymond B Huey1, Curtis A Deutsch, Joshua J Tewksbury
1Department of Biology, University of Washington, PO Box 351800, Seattle, WA 98195, USA. hueyrb@u.washington.edu
Proceedings. Biological Sciences
|March 28, 2009
Summary
Climate warming poses risks to tropical forest lizards, even with low warming rates. These lizards, sensitive to heat, face physiological stress and invasion by competitors, threatening ecosystems.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Climate Change Biology
- Herpetology
Background:
- Biological impacts of climate warming are expected to intensify with latitude.
- Lizard thermal biology is well-understood, making them ideal models for assessing warming risks.
- Impact magnitude depends on warming extent, species vulnerability, and adaptive capacity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the vulnerability of diurnal lizards to climate warming across diverse latitudes.
- To analyze the physiological and ecological risks posed by warming to tropical forest lizards, specifically Puerto Rican Anolis and Sphaerodactyus.
Main Methods:
- Macrophysiological analyses of diurnal lizards from various latitudes.
- Focal species analyses of Puerto Rican Anolis and Sphaerodactyus.
- Simulations to predict future physiological performance and community interactions.
Main Results:
- Some tropical thermoconforming forest lizards exhibit low optimal body temperatures and are intolerant of heat.
- Certain tropical forest lizards already experienced thermal stress decades ago.
- Projected warming will impair lizard performance and facilitate invasion by competitors and predators.
Conclusions:
- Tropical forest lizards are vulnerable to climate warming's cascading physiological and ecological effects.
- Even low rates of tropical warming can significantly impact these sensitive species.
- Warming threatens the integrity of tropical forest ecosystems due to lizard vulnerability.
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