Thermal constraints and the influence of reproduction on thermoregulation in a high‐altitude gecko (Quedenfeldtia trachyblepharus)

Abstract

Temperature plays a crucial role for ectotherm performance and thus for fitness. Terrestrial ectotherms, including reptiles, regulate their body temperature mainly by behavioural means. At high altitude, however, thermal constraints make precise thermoregulation costly. The cost–benefit model of lizard thermoregulation predicts that thermally challenging environments should favour the evolution of thermoconformity. Yet, several species maintain high and stable body temperatures even in cool environments. We studied the Atlas Day Gecko, Quedenfeldtia trachyblepharus, a cold‐adapted lizard endemic to the High Atlas Mountains of Morocco. We quantified thermoregulation in gravid females, non‐gravid adult females, and adult males during the active season. Geckos thermoregulated during their active season, and thermoregulated with more effectiveness early in the season than late in the season. In the laboratory, the preferred body temperature ranges of gravid females, non‐gravid females, and males were not significantly different. In the field, however, gravid females had smaller deviations from the preferred body temperature and maintained higher body temperatures than males and non‐gravid females. Our study suggests that cold‐adapted reptiles adjust their thermoregulatory behaviour in response to thermal constraints and reproductive status.

Selection at behavioural, developmental and metabolic genes is associated with the northward expansion of a successful tropical colonizer

“…Anoles are an important model for behavioural studies (Lovern, Holmes, & Wade, 2004), and behavioural traits play a major role in explaining survival and adaptation to novel environmental conditions in these lizards (Lapiedra et al, 2018;Losos et al, 2004). In addition, terrestrial ectotherms display diverse behavioural strategies to regulate their body temperature, adapting to ambient environmental conditions that can fluctuate in time and space (Blouin-Demers et al, 2003;Bouazza et al, 2016). For example, green anoles from northern Tennessee remain active during cold winter months by aggregating in crevices where they find protection against cold temperatures (Bishop & Echternacht, 2004).…”

“…In this context, the green anole ( Anolis carolinensis ) is an ideal system to test how adaptation to new environment impacts genome variation since it is the only species of the genus to have expanded into temperate territories without human interference (Campbell‐Staton et al, , , ; Goodman, Echternacht, Hall, Deng, & Welch, ; Manthey, Tollis, Lemmon, Moriarty Lemmon, & Boissinot, ; Ruggiero, Bourgeois, & Boissinot, ; Tollis et al, ). Indeed, ectotherms face unique challenges to adapt to cold climates, and increase their fitness through behavioural, physiological and morphological means (Blouin‐Demers, Weatherhead, & McCracken, ; Bouazza, Slimani, Mouden, Blouin‐Demers, & Lourdais, ; Campbell‐Staton et al, ).…”

Density‐dependent habitat selection predicts fitness and abundance in a small lizard

“…During the trial, lizard skin temperature was measured on the dorsal surface every half hour for eight hours with an infrared thermometer ( 0.1 o C). Measuring skin temperature with an infrared thermometer is a good estimate of internal body temperature (T b ) in small-bodied lizards (Herczeg et al 2006, Carretero 2012, Bouazza et al 2016. The central 50% of the distribution of T b (25th -75th quantiles) was used as the T set for each lizard in the thermal gradient.…”

Selection at behavioral, developmental and metabolic genes is associated with the northward expansion of a successful tropical colonizer

“…Anoles are an important model for behavioral studies (Lovern et al 2004), and behavioral traits play a major role in explaining survival and adaptation to novel environmental conditions in these lizards (Losos et al 2004; Lapiedra et al 2018). In addition, terrestrial ectotherms display diverse behavioral strategies to regulate their body temperature, adapting to ambient environmental conditions that can fluctuate in time and space (Blouin-Demers et al 2003; Bouazza et al 2016). For example, green anoles from northern Tennessee remain active during cold winter months by aggregating in crevices where they find protection against cold temperatures (Bishop and Echternacht 2004).…”

“…In this context, the green anole (Anolis carolinensis) is an ideal system to test how adaptation to new environment impacts genome variation since it is the only species of the genus to have expanded into temperate territories (Campbell-Staton et al 2012, 2017, 2018; Goodman et al 2013; Manthey et al 2016; Ruggiero et al 2017; Tollis et al 2018). Indeed, ectotherms face unique challenges to adapt to cold climates, and increase their fitness through behavioral, physiological and morphological means (Blouin-Demers et al 2003; Bouazza et al 2016; Campbell-Staton et al 2018).…”