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Thermal dependence of locomotor performance in two cool-temperate lizards

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Abstract

Temperate-zone ectotherms experience varying or very low ambient temperatures and may have difficulty in attaining preferred body temperatures. Thus, adaptations to reduce the thermal dependence of physiological processes may be present. We measured the optimal temperature range for sprint speed and compared it with the selected body temperatures (T sel) of two sympatric, cool-temperate lizards: the diurnal skink Oligosoma maccanni and the primarily nocturnal gecko Woodworthia (previously Hoplodactylus) “Otago/Southland”. We also investigated whether time-of-day influenced sprint speed. Contrary to results for other reptiles, we found that time-of-day did not influence speed in either species. For each species, the optimal temperature range for sprinting and T sel overlapped, supporting the ‘thermal coadaptation’ hypothesis. However, the optimal range of temperatures for speed is not always attainable during activity by either species, which have limited opportunities to attain T sel in the field. The thermal sensitivity of sprint speed in these two species does not appear to have evolved to fully match their current thermal environment. More data on cold-adapted species are needed to fully understand physiological adaptation in ectotherms.

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Acknowledgments

We thank our field assistants for their help in catching the lizards, and land-owners for access to their land. We also thank Amy Armstrong, Kim Garrett, Murray McKenzie and Ken Miller for their assistance in maintaining animals and/or the housing facility. We also thank members of the Cree lab for comments on manuscript drafts. This study originated as undergraduate research projects and we thank Kylie Cranston, Kate Davidson, David Elder, Matthew Gane, Michael Greer, Hadlee Lambie, Matthew Lepkowski, Yuki Maekawa, Catherine Nottingham, Kaitlyn White and Rachel Worth for their involvement. Financial support was provided by the Foundation for Research Science and Technology, New Zealand Science and Technology Postdoctoral Fellowship to KMH. Captive lizards were maintained following consultation with Ngāi Tahu and approval from the New Zealand Department of Conservation and the University of Otago Animal Ethics Committee.

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Author notes

  1. Anne A. Besson

    Present address: BioGéoSciences, CNRS UMR 5561, Université de Bourgogne, 6 Boulevard Gabriel, 21000, Dijon, France

  2. Amanda J. Caldwell

    Present address: School of Zoology, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 05, Hobart, TAS, 7001, Australia

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Zoology, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin, 9054, New Zealand

    Mya J. Gaby, Anne A. Besson, Chalene N. Bezzina, Amanda J. Caldwell, Sarai Cosgrove, Alison Cree, Steff Haresnape & Kelly M. Hare

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  1. Mya J. Gaby
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Correspondence to Kelly M. Hare.

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Gaby, M.J., Besson, A.A., Bezzina, C.N. et al. Thermal dependence of locomotor performance in two cool-temperate lizards. J Comp Physiol A 197, 869–875 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00359-011-0648-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00359-011-0648-3

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