Abstract
During extreme climate events, behavioural thermoregulation may buffer ectotherms from thermal stress and overheating. However, heatwaves are also combined with dry spells and limited water availability, and how much individuals can behaviourally mitigate dehydration risks through microclimate selection remains largely unknown. Herein, we investigated the behavioural and physiological responses to changes in air and microhabitat humidity in a terrestrial ectotherm, the asp viper (Vipera aspis). We exposed individuals to a simulated heatwave together with water deprivation for 3 weeks, and manipulated air water vapour density (wet air vs. dry air) and microclimate (wet shelter vs. dry shelter) in a two-by-two factorial design. Dry air conditions led to substantial physiological dehydration and muscle wasting. Vipers exposed to dry air used more often a shelter that offered a moist microclimate, which reduced dehydration and muscle wasting at the individual level. These results provide the first experimental evidence that active behavioural hydroregulation can mitigate specific physiological stress responses caused by a dry spell in an ectotherm. Future studies investigating organismal responses to climate change should consider moisture gradient in the habitat and integrate both hydroregulation and thermoregulation behaviours.
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Acknowledgements
The authors thank Rémi Ksas (Venom World) for providing the snakes for this experiment, and for his contribution through his observations on wet microclimates, as well as Bruno Michaud for logistic support. We thank Andréaz Dupoué for his advices and help with the laboratory analysis. We also thank Sydney Hope for helpful comments on the English of the manuscript.
Funding
Funding support was provided by the Agence Nationale de la Recherche under the ‘Aquatherm’ project (ANR-17-CE02-0013 to J.-F.L.G.), by the Conseil Régional de Nouvelle-Aquitaine under the ‘Aquastress’ project (2018-1R20214 to O.L.) and by the Climate Sentinels Program 2016–2021 coordinated by the “Cistude Nature” association (Phd Fanny Mallard, funded by the European Regional Development Fund, the region Nouvelle Aquitaine, the department of Gironde and Pyrénées-Atlantiques). M. D. is currently supported by a doctoral grant from ED 227 Sorbonne University.
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MD, J-FLG, and OL conceived the ideas and designed methodology. MD and OL carried all experimental procedures and collected the data. MD led the data analyses and writing of the manuscript together with J-FLG and OL, and all authors contributed critically in result interpretation and manuscript writing. All authors gave final approval for publication.
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Dezetter, M., Le Galliard, JF. & Lourdais, O. Behavioural hydroregulation protects against acute effects of drought in a dry-skinned ectotherm. Oecologia 201, 355–367 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-022-05299-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-022-05299-1