Fragmentation alters home range and movements of the Dunes Sagebrush Lizard (<i>Sceloporus</i><i>arenicolus</i>)

Young, Megan; Ryberg, Wade A.; Fitzgerald, Lee A.; Hibbitts, Toby J.

doi:10.1139/cjz-2017-0048

Cited by 24 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 50 publications

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“…2018; Young et al . 2018). In this regard, temperate climate environments and highlands represent potential thermal refuges for many equatorial or lowland populations that, if capable of dispersion, would eventually be forced to displace to colder environments.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Thermal biology and locomotor performance in Phymaturus calcogaster: are Patagonian lizards vulnerable to climate change?

et al. 2020

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Behavioral and physiological traits of ectotherms are especially sensitive to fluctuations of environmental temperature. In particular, niche‐specialist lizards are dependent on their physiological plasticity to adjust to changing environmental conditions. Lizards of the genus Phymaturus are viviparous, mainly herbivorous, and inhabit only rock promontories in the steppe environments of Patagonia and the Andes. Herein, we examine the vulnerability of the southernmost Phymaturus species to global warming: the endemic Phymaturus calcogaster, which lives in a mesic environment in eastern Patagonia. We studied body temperatures in the field (Tb), preferred body temperatures in a thermogradient (Tpref), the operative (Te) and environmental temperatures, and the dependence of running performance on body temperature. P. calcogaster had a mean Tb (27.04°C) and a mean Te (31.15°C) both lower than their preferred temperature (Tpref = 36.61°C) and the optimal temperature for running performance (To = 37.13°C). Lizard activity seems to be restraint during the early afternoon due high environmental temperatures. However, both, the high safety margin and warming tolerance suggest that the expected increase in environmental temperatures due to global warming (IPCC report in 2018) would not threaten, but indeed enhance locomotor performance in this population.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Thermal biology and locomotor performance in Phymaturus calcogaster: are Patagonian lizards vulnerable to climate change?

et al. 2020

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“…We used two home range estimates to compare space use, including 100% minimum convex polygons (MCP; Burt, 1943 ; Row & Blouin‐Demers, 2006 ) and 95% fixed kernel density estimators (KDE; Worton, 1989 ; Young et al, 2018 ) using the adehabitatHR package (Calenge, 2006 ). The MCP method provides an outline that encloses all locations and was selected to estimate the maximum potential area an individual occupied, whereas KDE was selected to estimate variation in intensity of space use among individuals (Seaman & Powell, 1996 ).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evolutionary stability inferred for a free ranging lizard with sex‐reversal

et al. 2022

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The sex of vertebrates is typically determined genetically, but reptile sex can also be determined by developmental temperature. In some reptiles, temperature interacts with genotype to reverse sex, potentially leading to transitions from a chromosomal to a temperature‐dependent sex determining system. Transitions between such systems in nature are accelerated depending on the frequency and fitness of sex‐reversed individuals. The Central Bearded Dragon, Pogona vitticeps, exhibits female heterogamety (ZZ/ZW) but can have its sex reversed from ZZ male to ZZ female by high incubation temperatures. The species exhibits sex‐reversal in the wild and it has been suggested that climate change and fitness of sex‐reversed individuals could be increasing the frequency of reversal within the species range. Transitions to temperature‐dependent sex determination require low levels of dispersal and high (>50%) rates of sex‐reversal. Here, we combine genotype‐by‐sequencing, identification of phenotypic and chromosomal sex, exhaustive field surveys, and radio telemetry to examine levels of genetic structure, rates of sex‐reversal, movement, space use, and survival of P. vitticeps in a location previously identified as a hot spot for sex‐reversal. We find that the species exhibits low levels of population structure (FST ~0.001) and a modest (~17%) rate of sex‐reversal, and that sex‐reversed and nonsex‐reversed females have similar survival and behavioural characteristics to each other. Overall, our data indicate this system is evolutionary stable, although we do not rule out the prospect of a more gradual transition in sex‐determining mechanisms in the future in a more fragmented landscape and as global temperatures increase.

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“…Based on demographic studies [ 18 , 33 ] and observations of S . arenicolus [ 31 , 69 – 71 ], individuals do not move large distances. Their strict habitat requirements, and the naturally patchy and temporally dynamic qualities of this habitat, suggests that populations should be subdivided.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Phylogeographic structure of the dunes sagebrush lizard, an endemic habitat specialist

Chan

Painter²,

Hill

et al. 2020

PLoS ONE

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Phylogeographic divergence and population genetic diversity within species reflect the impacts of habitat connectivity, demographics, and landscape level processes in both the recent and distant past. Characterizing patterns of differentiation across the geographic range of a species provides insight on the roles of organismal and environmental traits in evolutionary divergence and future population persistence. This is particularly true of habitat specialists where habitat availability and resource dependence may result in pronounced genetic structure as well as increased population vulnerability. We use DNA sequence data as well as microsatellite genotypes to estimate range-wide phylogeographic divergence, historical population connectivity, and historical demographics in an endemic habitat specialist, the dunes sagebrush lizard ( Sceloporus arenicolus ). This species is found exclusively in dune blowouts and patches of open sand within the shinnery oak-sand dune ecosystem of southeastern New Mexico and adjacent Texas. We find evidence of phylogeographic structure consistent with breaks and constrictions in suitable habitat at the range-wide scale. In addition, we find support for a dynamic and variable evolutionary history across the range of S . arenicolus . Populations in the Monahans Sandhills have deeply divergent lineages consistent with long-term demographic stability. In contrast, populations in the Mescalero Sands are not highly differentiated, though we do find evidence of demographic expansion in some regions and relative demographic stability in others. Phylogeographic history and population genetic differentiation in this species has been shaped by the configuration of habitat patches within a geologically complex and historically dynamic landscape. Our findings identify regions as genetically distinctive conservation units as well as underscore the genetic and demographic history of different lineages of S . arenicolus .

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Fragmentation alters home range and movements of the Dunes Sagebrush Lizard (Sceloporusarenicolus)

Cited by 24 publications

References 50 publications

Thermal biology and locomotor performance in Phymaturus calcogaster: are Patagonian lizards vulnerable to climate change?

Thermal biology and locomotor performance in Phymaturus calcogaster: are Patagonian lizards vulnerable to climate change?

Evolutionary stability inferred for a free ranging lizard with sex‐reversal

Phylogeographic structure of the dunes sagebrush lizard, an endemic habitat specialist

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