The vulnerability of developing embryos to simulated climate warming differs between sympatric desert lizards

Abstract

The vulnerability of species to climate warming varies along latitudinal and elevational clines, but how sympatric species vary in vulnerability to climate warming remains largely unknown. We experimentally simulated nest temperatures of two sympatric lizards with divergent microhabitat preferences (Phrynocephalus przewalskii and Eremias argus), under climate warming senarios, to determine the response of embryos to increased mean temperatures and heat waves. Our study demonstrated that simulated climate warming reduced hatching success and hatchling size and growth in E. argus (that prefers closed microhabitats), but had less effect in P. przewalskii (that occupies open microhabitats). The reduced growth rate of E. argus hatchlings was associated with a decrease in metabolic rate, which was more evident in hatchling E. argus than in P. przewalskii. Our results suggest lizards that prefer closed microhabitats may be more vulnerable to climate warming than those that prefer open microhabitats; further studies are needed to test this hypothesis. More generally, the divergent responses of sympatric species to climate warming highlights the importance of distinguishing the thermal sensitivity of behavior and physiology for each species of a community, in order to make predictions about the impacts of climate warming at regional scales.

Modelling the potential impacts of climate change on the distribution of ichthyoplankton in the Yangtze Estuary, China

“…In addition to range contraction and a northward shift, another response pattern—range expansion—was documented in the present study. Different responses of sympatric species to climate change have been previously demonstrated, both by laboratory experiments (Logan, Huynh, Precious, & Calsbeek, ; Ma et al, ) and by SDM projections (Van Zuiden, Chen, Stefanoff, Lopez, & Sharma, ) and primarily attributed to differences in thermal sensitivity. For instance, Ma et al () experimentally tested the responses of embryos of two sympatric desert lizards to simulated climate warming and found that climate warming had different impacts on the two species studied.…”

Influence of temperature variation on incubation period, hatching success, sex ratio, and phenotypes in Caiman latirostris

“…However, it is well known that nest (incubation) temperature varies considerably during embryogenesis in nature (Simoncini et al, ; Valenzuela, ). For this reason, several studies have focused on temperature fluctuations and their influence on embryonic development in turtles and lizards (Ashmore & Janzen, ; Du & Ji, ; Fuentes, Limpus, & Hamann, ; Georges, Beggs, Young, & Doody, ; Hawkes, Broderick, Godfrey, & Godley, ; Hays, Broderick, Glen, & Godley, ; Les, Paitz, & Bowden, ; Ma et al, ; Mitchell, Kearney, Nelson, & Porter, ; Patiño‐Martinez, Marco, Quiñones, & Hawkes, ; Wapstra et al, ; Witt, Hawkes, Godfrey, Godley, & Broderick, ), although this aspect has not been widely studied in crocodilians. It was also mentioned that incubation temperature influences hatchling phenotypes and quality in reptiles (Booth, , ; Noble, Stenhouse, & Schwanz, ).…”

Introduction to the special issue—Developmental plasticity in reptiles: Physiological mechanisms and ecological consequences

“…Ma et al. () exposed embryos of two sympatric lizard species (that occupy different microhabitats) to climate warming scenarios and show that the impact of climate warming on these species is dependent upon preferred microhabitats. Lastly, Cunningham, Fitzpatrick, While, and Wapstra () examined the consequences of thermal conditions at the margins of the population's temperature range in a viviparous skink, and suggest that advancing birth dates due to warming climates could have positive effects for their montane population.…”

“…Sanger, Kyrkos, Lachance, Czesney, and Stroud (2018) demonstrated that increasing temperatures negatively affect embryo survival during the stages of morphogenesis in brown anoles, and suggest that climate change will likely negatively affect egg survival given that nests in the field are currently at the thermal limits. Ma et al (2018) exposed embryos of two sympatric lizard species (that occupy different microhabitats) to climate warming scenarios and show that the impact of climate warming on these species is dependent upon preferred microhabitats. Lastly, Cunningham, Fitzpatrick, While, and Wapstra (2018) examined the consequences of thermal conditions at the margins of the population's temperature range in a viviparous skink, and suggest that advancing birth dates due to warming climates could have positive effects for their montane population.…”