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Thermoregulation in the lizard Psammodromus algirus along a 2200-m elevational gradient in Sierra Nevada (Spain)

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Abstract

Achieving optimal body temperature maximizes animal fitness. Since ambient temperature may limit ectotherm thermal performance, it can be constrained in too cold or hot environments. In this sense, elevational gradients encompass contrasting thermal environments. In thermally pauperized elevations, ectotherms may either show adaptations or suboptimal body temperatures. Also, reproductive condition may affect thermal needs. Herein, we examined different thermal ecology and physiology capabilities of the lizard Psammodromus algirus along a 2200-m elevational gradient. We measured field (Tb) and laboratory-preferred (Tpref) body temperatures of lizards with different reproductive conditions, as well as ambient (Ta) and copper-model operative temperature (Te), which we used to determine thermal quality of the habitat (de), accuracy (db), and effectiveness of thermoregulation (de–db) indexes. We detected no Tb trend in elevation, while Ta constrained Tb only at high elevations. Moreover, while Ta decreased more than 7 °C with elevation, Tpref dropped only 0.6 °C, although significantly. Notably, low-elevation lizards faced excess temperature (Te > Tpref). Notably, de was best at middle elevations, followed by high elevations, and poorest at low elevations. Nonetheless, regarding microhabitat, high-elevation de was more suitable in sun-exposed microhabitats, which may increase exposition to predators, and at midday, which may limit daily activity. As for gender, db and de–db were better in females than in males. In conclusion, P. algirus seems capable to face a wide thermal range, which probably contributes to its extensive corology and makes it adaptable to climate changes.

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Acknowledgments

This study was funded by the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (project CGL2009-13185) and performed according to permits issued to the authors by Junta de Andalucía (references GMN/GyB/JMIF and ENSN/JSG/JEGT/MCF). FJZC and SR were supported by two pre-doctoral grants from the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (FPU program). We thank the personnel from the Espacio Natural de Sierra Nevada for their constant support. María Virtudes Rubiño Hispán, MariCruz Tuset Arcas, Miguel Leandro López Gracia, Susana Silva González, Elena Melero Martínez, and Laureano González González-Granda helped us during field work. Comments by Juan Manuel Pleguezuelos and three anonymous reviewers improved the manuscript. David Nesbitt revised the English.

All applicable international, national, and/or institutional guidelines for the care and use of animals were followed. All procedures performed in studies involving animals were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institution or practice at which the studies were conducted. This article does not contain any studies with human participants performed by any of the authors. The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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  1. Departamento de Zoología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Granada, 18071, Granada, Spain

    Francisco Javier Zamora-Camacho, Senda Reguera & Gregorio Moreno-Rueda

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  1. Francisco Javier Zamora-Camacho
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  2. Senda Reguera
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Correspondence to Francisco Javier Zamora-Camacho.

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Zamora-Camacho, F.J., Reguera, S. & Moreno-Rueda, G. Thermoregulation in the lizard Psammodromus algirus along a 2200-m elevational gradient in Sierra Nevada (Spain). Int J Biometeorol 60, 687–697 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-015-1063-1

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