Thermoregulation of the lizard Barisia imbricata at altitudinal extremes

2019 ◽  
Vol 40 (3) ◽  
pp. 349-360
Author(s):  
Natalia Fierro-Estrada ◽  
Yasmin Guadalupe González González ◽  
Donald B. Miles ◽  
Margarita Martínez Gómez ◽  
Andrés García ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Temperature ◽  
Narrow Range ◽  
Thermal Ecology ◽  
Body Temperatures ◽  
Mean Body Temperature ◽  
Thermal Requirements ◽  
Air Temperatures ◽  
Preferred Temperatures ◽  
Environmental Temperatures ◽  
Two Populations

Abstract Ambient temperature is a primary factor affecting the physiology and activity of reptiles. Thermoregulation involves a series of mechanisms to maintain an organism’s body temperature within a narrow range. The study of thermal ecology of lizards is relevant for understanding their distribution, life history, ecology and thermal requirements. Moreover, determining how species are able to attain physiologically active body temperatures in challenging environments is necessary for assessing the risk of extinction due to climate change, especially for threatened endemic species. We evaluated and compared the thermal ecology of two populations of the viviparous lizard Barisia imbricata, at contrasting elevations (2200 and 3700 m). We obtained variation in thermal data from winter through autumn for multiple years. We determined thermal efficiency indices based on field active body temperatures, preferred temperatures (in a thermal gradient), and operative environmental temperatures (according to null models). We also recorded substrate and air temperatures at the time of capture. Mean body temperature of both populations showed a positive correlation with environmental temperatures. We found significant seasonal differences in body temperature in both populations, and between body temperatures of the two populations. Our results suggest that B. imbricata is an eurythermic species and can thermoregulate actively at any given time. However, when environmental temperatures are within the range of preferred temperatures, the species does not engage in thermoregulatory behavior. This information expands knowledge on the range of possible thermal responses to environmental variation within a species.

Thermal ecology and reproductive cyclicity of the snake Natrix tessellata in south-eastern Austria and central Italy: a comparative study

1997 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 383-396 ◽  
Author(s):  
Petra Zimmermann ◽  
Luca Luiselli
Keyword(s):  
Body Temperature ◽  
Average Length ◽  
Central Italy ◽  
Thermal Ecology ◽  
Mean Body Temperature ◽  
Widespread Species ◽  
South Eastern ◽  
Eastern Austria ◽  
Reproductive Females ◽  
Two Populations

AbstractAspects of thermal ecology and reproductive cyclicity are compared in two populations of the dice snake (Natrix tessellata), a semi-aquatic natricine species widely distributed across Europe. One population was studied near Leibnitz, Styria (south-eastern Austria), and the other one was studied in the Mounts of Tolfa near Rome (Latium, central Italy). The climate was strongly colder in the Austrian than in the Italian site. Snakes of both populations were similar in various traits, including average body temperature, higher mean body temperature of gravid than non-gravid individuals, significantly higher substratum temperatures selected by gravid than by non-gravid individuals, trends of relationships between body, air and substratum temperatures, average length of reproductive females, and average preparturition mass of reproductive females. However, Austrian snakes were found in water significantly less often than their Italian conspecifics (although in both populations nearly all individuals occurred close to water bodies), and showed a lower frequency of reproduction (biannual rather than annual) than Italian ones. The presented data are discussed in the light of suboptimal occupation of the colder area by Austrian snakes, and conservative rigidity of natural history and ecological traits of such a widespread species as N. tessellata.

Temperature Diurne d'Activité des Males et des Femelles de Lacerta vivipara

1987 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 393-400 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benoit Heulin
Keyword(s):  
Body Temperature ◽  
Regression Line ◽  
Body Temperatures ◽  
Mean Body Temperature ◽  
Pregnant Females ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Lacerta Vivipara ◽  
Environmental Temperatures

AbstractMean body temperature (TC) of Lacerta vivpara ranges from 26°8 to 32° at Paimpont (France). There is a highly significant correlation between environmental temperatures (TS) and body temperatures (TC). The mean body temperature of pregnant females is lower than that of males and non-pregnant females. Also, the regression line TC = f(TS) calculated for pregnant females is different from those calculated for males and non-pregnant females. The possible relations between pregnancy and body temperature are discussed.

Thermal ecology of the high-altitude bunch grass lizard, Sceloporus scalaris

1993 ◽  
Vol 71 (11) ◽  
pp. 2152-2155 ◽  
Author(s):  
Geoffrey R. Smith ◽  
Royce E. Ballinger ◽  
Justin D. Congdon
Keyword(s):  
Body Temperature ◽  
High Altitude ◽  
Air Temperature ◽  
Early Summer ◽  
The Body ◽  
Thermal Ecology ◽  
Body Temperatures ◽  
Vegetative Cover ◽  
Mean Body Temperature ◽  
Early Maturity

The thermal ecology of a high-altitude lizard, Sceloporus scalaris, was investigated in the Chiricahua Mountains of southeastern Arizona, where the lizards are active on sunny days throughout the year. Mean body temperature was 32.6 °C (range 12.6–39 °C) and mean air temperature was 20.2 °C (range 5.2–36.4 °C). The slope of the body temperature versus air temperature regression was 0.23. Monthly differences in body temperature were observed, with the highest body temperatures observed in early summer. Lizards at three study sites with differing slope and vegetative cover had different mean body temperatures. Males had higher body temperatures than both nongravid and gravid females. Maintenance of elevated body temperatures even during winter lengthens the activity and growing season, permitting early maturity with potentially important life-history consequences.

Radiotelemetry of body temperatures of free-ranging snapping turtles (Chelydra serpentina) during summer

1990 ◽  
Vol 68 (8) ◽  
pp. 1659-1663 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gregory P. Brown ◽  
Ronald J. Brooks ◽  
James A. Layfield
Keyword(s):  
Body Temperature ◽  
Chelydra Serpentina ◽  
Body Temperatures ◽  
Mean Body Temperature ◽  
Mean Temperature ◽  
Snapping Turtles ◽  
Air Temperatures ◽  
Foraging Tactics ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Free Ranging

We wished to determine whether free-ranging snapping turtles (Chelydra serpentina) would use aquatic and atmospheric basking to maintain body temperature at the mean temperature (28–30 °C) selected by snapping turtles placed in a controlled aquatic thermal gradient. Body temperatures from eight adult snapping turtles in three different lakes in Algonquin Provincial Park were monitored by radiotelemetry during July and August 1987. Mean body temperature of all eight turtles over the study period was 22.7 °C, and mean temperature of every individual was well below the reported mean selected temperature for this species. The turtles did not maintain body temperatures near the available maximum environmental temperature. The mean body temperatures of the turtles were not significantly different among the three study lakes although these lakes had different physical characteristics. Similarly, there were no significant differences, among individual turtles, between air temperatures or operative environmental temperatures recorded concurrently with their body temperatures Nevertheless, mean body temperatures differed significantly among individuals; foraging tactics, metabolic rates, and home range structure may account for these differences.

scholarly journals Thermal ecology and activity patterns of the lizard community of the Restinga of Jurubatiba, Macaé, RJ

2001 ◽  
Vol 61 (2) ◽  
pp. 287-294 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. H. HATANO ◽  
D. VRCIBRADIC ◽  
C. A. B. GALDINO ◽  
M. CUNHA-BARROS ◽  
C. F. D. ROCHA ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Temperature ◽  
Rio De Janeiro ◽  
Activity Patterns ◽  
Early Morning ◽  
Thermal Ecology ◽  
Congeneric Species ◽  
Late Afternoon ◽  
Hemidactylus Mabouia ◽  
Environmental Temperatures

We analyzed the thermal ecology and activity patterns of the lizard community from the Restinga of Jurubatiba, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The broadest activity was that of Tropidurus torquatus, a sit-and-wait forager, while the active foraging teiid Cnemidophorus littoralis had the shortest activity. The nocturnal gekkonid Hemidactylus mabouia was found active during the day only during early morning and late afternoon, when environmental temperatures are low. Body temperature was highest for Cnemidophorus littoralis and lowest for the two Mabuya species. The patterns found here are discussed and compared to those of congeneric species in other habitats in Brazil.

Thermal influence of sunshine and clothing on men walking in humid heat

1962 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 311-316 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. N. Craig ◽  
E. G. Cummings
Keyword(s):  
Body Temperature ◽  
Temperature Gradient ◽  
Air Temperature ◽  
Indoor Air ◽  
Physiological Strain ◽  
Mean Body Temperature ◽  
Clothing Insulation ◽  
Air Temperatures ◽  
Rate Of Increase ◽  
Thermal Influence

For two men walking on a treadmill and wearing two layers of permeable clothing, the same physiological strain measured by the rate of increase in mean body temperature could be produced a) next to a building outdoors in the sunshine with an average air temperature of 85 F and humidity of 20 mm Hg and b) indoors with the same humidity and an air temperature 10 F higher. Under these conditions, the underwear was mainly wet with sweat and the outer layer was mainly dry. In comparable indoor tests on a third subject, the temperature of the underwear approached equilibrium 1 or 2 F lower than the temperature of the skin at air temperatures of 85 and 115 F. The error in calculating clothing insulation introduced by assuming the clothing to be dry is determined by the size and direction of the temperature gradient between skin and air. Adding 10 F to the indoor air temperature does not duplicate all the effects of sunshine. Submitted on September 15, 1961

Shivering and nonshivering thermogenesis in the bat (Myotis myotis Borkh.) during arousal from hibernation

1970 ◽  
Vol 48 (2) ◽  
pp. 102-106 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiří Mejsnar ◽  
Ladislav Janský
Keyword(s):  
Body Temperature ◽  
Great Increase ◽  
Late Period ◽  
Nonshivering Thermogenesis ◽  
Body Temperatures ◽  
Metabolic Capacity ◽  
Middle Range ◽  
Myotis Myotis ◽  
Speed Up ◽  
Environmental Temperatures

Nonshivering thermogenesis exists in the bat (Myotis myotis Borkh.) arousing from hibernation at environmental temperatures of 4–6 °C. Nonshivering thermogenesis is essential for the start of the arousal, and it is stimulated by noradrenaline since hexamethonium prevents the increase in metabolism and body temperature. Injection of noradrenaline abolishes this inhibition by hexamethonium by inducing nonshivering thermogenesis. After simultaneous administration of hexamethonium and alderlin no calorigenic effect of noradrenaline occurs. Shivering heat production during arousal appears at body temperatures between 10 and 17 °C predominantly. In normothermic bats the calorigenic effect of noradrenaline was observed, which indicates that nonshivering thermogenesis might also be present in awake animals. During arousal at 25 °C a great increase in intensity of shivering was observed. Elimination of nonshivering thermogenesis by hexamethonium does not prevent the attainment of the homoiothermic level of body temperature, and administration of noradrenaline does not speed up the process of arousal. As is evident from the metabolic capacity of the brown fat, the heat derived from this organ could maximally participate in total metabolism by 25% at the beginning and at the late period of arousal. In the middle range of body temperatures its significance for total metabolism is only about 10–13%.

Thermal Relations of Testudo hermanni robertmertensi WERMUTH in S. France

1984 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 37-41 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Stubbs ◽  
Adrian Hailey ◽  
Elizabeth Pulford
Keyword(s):  
Body Temperature ◽  
Air Temperature ◽  
Indirect Evidence ◽  
Body Temperatures ◽  
Mean Body Temperature ◽  
Testudo Hermanni ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Selection Of ◽  
Thermal Relations

AbstractThe mean body temperature of T. hermanni in woodland in France was 28.5 °C (August 1981). Body temperatures were elevated above air temperature and indirect evidence for basking and selection of an optimal microenvironment is discussed.

Studies on the adaptability of three breeds of sheep to a tropical environment modified by altitude II. Responses in body, skin and coat temperatures, cardio-respiratory frequencies and rate of moisture secretion of ewes to the diurnal fluctuation in ambient temperature during the hottest part of the year

1960 ◽  
Vol 55 (3) ◽  
pp. 295-302 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. B. Symington
Keyword(s):  
Body Temperature ◽  
Ambient Temperature ◽  
Skin Temperature ◽  
Skin Surface ◽  
Diurnal Fluctuation ◽  
Body Temperatures ◽  
Solar Insolation ◽  
Air Temperatures ◽  
Insensible Perspiration ◽  
Artificial Heat

Responses in body, skin and coat temperatures, cardio-respiratory frequencies and rate of moisture secretion of ewes of three breeds to the diurnal fluctuation in ambient temperature were recorded in the presence and absence of drinking water during the hottest part of the Rhodesian year.1. At 7.0 a.m. body temperatures were: Merino 102·8° F.; Persian 102·2° F. and Native 101·5° F. Between 7·0 a.m. and 1·0 p.m. body temperature rose almost equally in Persians and Natives and fell slightly in Merinos. Change in body temperature between 7.0 a.m. and 1.0 p.m. was not affected significantly by availability of water nor age of ewe, but varied with type of thermal burden (i.e. solar insolation only v. solar insolation plus artificial heat) when water was not available. Although air temperature fell towards late afternoon body temperature of Merinos and Natives rose appreciably, that of Persians only slightly.2. At 7·0 a.m. respiratory rates were (cyc./min.): Merino 59·6; Persian 43·0; Native 29·9. Increase in rate of respiration was the main thermolytic mechanism in all breeds. Merinos had a lower threshold of respiratory response to rising ambient temperature than either hair breed but increase in rate of respiration between 7.0 a.m. and 1.0 p.m. did not differ significantly with breed or age.3. No breed appeared to use the peripheral blood system in thermoregulation. Cardio-frequency, as a measure of this blood flow, remained almost constant with a slight tendency to fall with rise in ambient temperature.4. In all breeds skin temperature was related to ambient and body temperatures; consequently the diurnal fluctuation in skin temperature differed in wool and hair breeds. When thermal burden was greatest Merino skin temperature fell, that of hair breeds did not.Except at 11.0 a.m. there was a gradient between rectal, skin and air temperatures. Direct elimination of heat was thus possible for 23 hr. each day.5. In hair breeds moisture secretion depended on insensible perspiration; consequently, rate of moisture secretion changed with body and air temperatures. In Merinos moisture for skin surface evaporation was provided by sensible and insensible perspiration. Natives may be able to sweat at temperatures higher than those recorded but it is unlikely Persians have a sweating mechanism.6. In all breeds coat temperature was related closely to ambient temperature and changes in solar conditions evoked immediate response in coat temperature. Merino fleece apparently stabilized skin temperature whereas Persian and Native hair did not.

The significance of the coat in heat tolerance of cattle. II. Effect of solar radiation on body temperatures

1960 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 871 ◽  
Author(s):  
DF Dowling
Keyword(s):  
Body Temperature ◽  
Solar Radiation ◽  
The Body ◽  
Body Temperatures ◽  
Hair Coat ◽  
Transparent Plastic ◽  
Mean Body Temperature ◽  
Clear Plastic ◽  
The Mean ◽  
The Difference

An experiment was performed to test the effect of solar radiation on the body temperatures of cattle, both clipped and with hair coat, in a clear transparent plastic covering as compared with cattle in a white reflective plastic covering. The mean body temperature of the animals in white plastic coats was 0.15°F lower than that of animals in clear plastic coats. This difference was highly significant statistically (P< 0.001). Animals in both clear and white coats had higher body temperatures than controls without plastic coats. The difference was highly significant, and was about 1.5°F in the clipped animals.

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