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Adherence to Bergmann’s rule by lizards may depend on thermoregulatory mode: support from a nocturnal gecko

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Abstract

Bergmann’s rule predicts an increase in body size with decreasing environmental temperature; however, the converse pattern has been found in the majority of lizards studied to date. For these ectotherms, small body size may provide thermal benefits (rapid heat uptake when basking), which would be highly advantageous in cold environments. Yet such an advantage may not exist in nocturnal lizards (which do not avidly bask), in which Bergmann’s rule has not been closely studied. We have examined whether the body size of a primarily nocturnal gecko, Woodworthia “Otago/Southland” changed with elevation and operative temperature (determined using physical copper models). In a laboratory study, we investigated whether thermoregulatory mode (heliothermy or thigmothermy) alters the effect of body size on heating and cooling rates. This gecko followed Bergmann’s rule, thereby showing the opposite of the dominant pattern in diurnal lizards. Size at maturity, maximum size of adults and size at birth were larger at higher elevations and at lower operative temperatures. Using physical models, we found that large body size can confer thermal benefits for nocturnal lizards that remain within diurnal retreats. Bergmann’s rule should not be dismissed for all lizards. Our results clearly support Bergmann’s rule for at least one thigmothermic species, for which large body size may provide thermal benefits. Future studies on Bergmann’s rule in lizards should consider thermoregulatory mode. We advocate that this ecogeographic rule be examined in relation to operative temperature measured at field sites. Finally, we predict that climate warming may weaken the relationship between body size and elevation in this gecko.

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Acknowledgments

This research was carried out with permission from the Department of Conservation (OT-28494-FAU) and the University of Otago Animal Ethics Committee (55/10), and following consultation with the Ngai Tahu Consultation Committee and Kati Huirapa Runaka ki Puketeraki. A student research grant from the Society for Research on Amphibians and Reptiles in New Zealand and support from OURG grant ORG0110-0312 to AC helped to fund this study. We thank the many landowners who kindly allowed us access and also thank all of our field assistants. Thank you to all the staff in the Department of Zoology, particularly to Murray McKenzie for help with equipment, to Kim Garrett for fieldwork support and to Ken Miller for graphical expertise. We are grateful to the anonymous reviewers, two examiners for comments on the Masters thesis that preceded this manuscript and to Steve Adolph, Jo Monks and the Cree lab group for discussions and comments.

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  1. Department of Zoology, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand

    Sophie Penniket & Alison Cree

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  1. Sophie Penniket
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Penniket, S., Cree, A. Adherence to Bergmann’s rule by lizards may depend on thermoregulatory mode: support from a nocturnal gecko. Oecologia 178, 427–440 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-015-3239-0

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