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Is a warmer environment better for a high-mountain lizard?

Mirna C Vera-Chávez1, Donald B Miles2, Diego M Arenas-Moreno3

  • 1Laboratorio de Herpetología 2, Departamento de Zoología, Instituto de Biología. Ciudad Universitaria, Coyoacán, CDMX, C.P. 04510, Mexico; Posgrado en Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (Posgrado en Ciencias Biológicas, Unidad de Posgrado, Edificio D, 1° Piso, Circuito de Posgrados, Ciudad Universitaria, Coyoacán, CDMX, C.P. 04510, Mexico.

Journal of Thermal Biology
|September 16, 2025
PubMed
Summary

High-elevation lizards possess thermal tolerance and physiological plasticity to adapt to rising global temperatures. This study shows Sceloporus bicanthalis can persist in warmer conditions, aiding survival amid climate change.

Keywords:
AcclimatisationCritical thermal limitsPlasticityThermal physiologyThermal preferencesky island

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Area of Science:

  • Ecology
  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Physiology

Background:

  • Global temperature increases pose a threat to lizard survival, particularly in environments with significant temperature fluctuations.
  • High-mountain (sky island) viviparous lizard populations may possess enhanced thermal tolerance, as suggested by Janzen's Hypothesis, potentially aiding adaptation to warming.
  • Investigating if high-elevation adaptations confer a greater capacity to cope with global warming compared to low-elevation populations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the thermal tolerance and physiological plasticity of Sceloporus bicanthalis populations under simulated warming conditions.
  • To determine if high-elevation lizards exhibit adaptations that facilitate coping with increasing ambient temperatures due to climate change.

Main Methods:

  • Translocation of Sceloporus bicanthalis from a high-elevation (4100 m) to a lower-elevation (2060 m) site.
  • Measurement of thermophysiological traits and locomotor performance before and after a 45-day acclimatisation period at the new site.
  • Analysis of thermal limits, thermoregulation effectiveness (E), maximum sprint speed (Vmax), and optimal performance temperature (Topt).

Main Results:

  • No significant changes in thermal limits were observed between pre- and post-acclimatisation groups.
  • Thermoregulation effectiveness (E) was higher in individuals acclimatised to their native high-elevation habitat.
  • Translocated individuals exhibited increased maximum sprint speed (Vmax), while optimal performance temperature (Topt) remained stable and aligned with preferred temperatures.

Conclusions:

  • Sceloporus bicanthalis demonstrates considerable physiological plasticity, indicating it is not a strict thermal specialist.
  • The species' thermal physiology enables persistence in warmer environments, suggesting a capacity to cope with rising global temperatures.
  • High-elevation populations possess traits that may enhance their resilience to climate change impacts.