A call for a systematic approach to documenting physiological diversity in squamates and beyond

Area of Science:

• Thermal biology
• Ectotherm physiology
• Climate change adaptation

Background:

• Rising global temperatures due to climate change and urbanization necessitate understanding ectotherm physiological responses.
• Squamates (lizards and snakes) are key models in thermal biology, but lack of standardized physiological data hinders comparative analysis.
• Current research on squamate thermal physiology suffers from methodological inconsistencies, creating biases in comparisons.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose a standardized framework, the 'physiotype', for documenting squamate thermal physiology.
• To enable robust comparative analyses of physiological traits across species and populations.
• To enhance predictions of species' vulnerability and adaptation capacity in changing thermal environments.

Main Methods:

• Recommending a standardized methodology for defining the physiotype.
• Integrating established physiological measurements taken at ecologically relevant temperatures.
• Advocating for accessible repositories for physiotypes to facilitate data synthesis.

Main Results:

• The proposed 'physiotype' framework offers a comprehensive tool for documenting thermal physiology.
• Standardized methodology will enable holistic understanding of squamate physiology, ecology, and behavior interactions.
• Accessible repositories will support large-scale data synthesis for broader insights.

Conclusions:

• The 'physiotype' framework provides a standardized approach to studying squamate thermal biology.
• This methodology will improve predictions of species' responses to climate change.
• The framework will inform conservation strategies for squamates in a dynamic thermal landscape.