Habitat conservation enhances the resilience of the lizard Liolaemus cuyumhue to high summer temperatures
Abstract Habitat degradation from human activities affects essential microhabitats, threatening ecological processes like foraging, mating, locomotion, predator evasion, and competition among reptiles. We assessed how microhabitat selection and body temperature of the endangered lizard Liolaemus cuy...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2025-02-01
|
| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-83845-y |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1832571729471340544 |
|---|---|
| author | María Victoria Brizio Facundo Cabezas-Cartes Luciano Javier Avila Jorgelina Mariela Boretto |
| author_facet | María Victoria Brizio Facundo Cabezas-Cartes Luciano Javier Avila Jorgelina Mariela Boretto |
| author_sort | María Victoria Brizio |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Habitat degradation from human activities affects essential microhabitats, threatening ecological processes like foraging, mating, locomotion, predator evasion, and competition among reptiles. We assessed how microhabitat selection and body temperature of the endangered lizard Liolaemus cuyumhue respond to differences in vegetation composition and thermal conditions between a disturbed site and an undisturbed site impacted by oil and gas activities in Argentina. During five expeditions between September 2022 and March 2023, we searched for L. cuyumhue and collected data on body temperature, substrate and air temperatures, body mass, snout-vent length, sex, and habitat characteristics. We also measured operative temperatures and assessed vegetation cover and microhabitat availability at each site. Our results showed significant differences in microhabitat characteristics and selection between sites. The undisturbed site had higher vegetation and lower operative temperatures, while the disturbed site had higher temperatures and lower vegetation, especially in summer. Lizards at the disturbed site showed higher body temperatures, suggesting stressful thermal conditions, and preferred microhabitats with lower bare ground cover. Capturing lizards in the disturbed site required more effort than in the undisturbed site. This study emphasizes the impact of habitat disturbance on the thermal environment and behavior of L. cuyumhue. Conservation efforts should prioritize maintaining and restoring vegetation to support the species’ thermoregulation needs, especially under global warming. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-6dcf0bcc16554a5eae6a88d37a07a9c4 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-6dcf0bcc16554a5eae6a88d37a07a9c42025-02-02T12:23:04ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-02-0115111310.1038/s41598-024-83845-yHabitat conservation enhances the resilience of the lizard Liolaemus cuyumhue to high summer temperaturesMaría Victoria Brizio0Facundo Cabezas-Cartes1Luciano Javier Avila2Jorgelina Mariela Boretto3Grupo de Herpetología Patagónica, Instituto Patagónico para el Estudio de Ecosistemas Continentales (IPEEC-CONICET)Laboratorio de Ecofisiología e Historia de vida de Reptiles, Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medio Ambiente (INIBIOMA–CONICET), Universidad Nacional del ComahueGrupo de Herpetología Patagónica, Instituto Patagónico para el Estudio de Ecosistemas Continentales (IPEEC-CONICET)Laboratorio de Ecofisiología e Historia de vida de Reptiles, Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medio Ambiente (INIBIOMA–CONICET), Universidad Nacional del ComahueAbstract Habitat degradation from human activities affects essential microhabitats, threatening ecological processes like foraging, mating, locomotion, predator evasion, and competition among reptiles. We assessed how microhabitat selection and body temperature of the endangered lizard Liolaemus cuyumhue respond to differences in vegetation composition and thermal conditions between a disturbed site and an undisturbed site impacted by oil and gas activities in Argentina. During five expeditions between September 2022 and March 2023, we searched for L. cuyumhue and collected data on body temperature, substrate and air temperatures, body mass, snout-vent length, sex, and habitat characteristics. We also measured operative temperatures and assessed vegetation cover and microhabitat availability at each site. Our results showed significant differences in microhabitat characteristics and selection between sites. The undisturbed site had higher vegetation and lower operative temperatures, while the disturbed site had higher temperatures and lower vegetation, especially in summer. Lizards at the disturbed site showed higher body temperatures, suggesting stressful thermal conditions, and preferred microhabitats with lower bare ground cover. Capturing lizards in the disturbed site required more effort than in the undisturbed site. This study emphasizes the impact of habitat disturbance on the thermal environment and behavior of L. cuyumhue. Conservation efforts should prioritize maintaining and restoring vegetation to support the species’ thermoregulation needs, especially under global warming.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-83845-yMicrohabitat selectionBody temperatureHabitat disturbanceLizard´s conservation |
| spellingShingle | María Victoria Brizio Facundo Cabezas-Cartes Luciano Javier Avila Jorgelina Mariela Boretto Habitat conservation enhances the resilience of the lizard Liolaemus cuyumhue to high summer temperatures Scientific Reports Microhabitat selection Body temperature Habitat disturbance Lizard´s conservation |
| title | Habitat conservation enhances the resilience of the lizard Liolaemus cuyumhue to high summer temperatures |
| title_full | Habitat conservation enhances the resilience of the lizard Liolaemus cuyumhue to high summer temperatures |
| title_fullStr | Habitat conservation enhances the resilience of the lizard Liolaemus cuyumhue to high summer temperatures |
| title_full_unstemmed | Habitat conservation enhances the resilience of the lizard Liolaemus cuyumhue to high summer temperatures |
| title_short | Habitat conservation enhances the resilience of the lizard Liolaemus cuyumhue to high summer temperatures |
| title_sort | habitat conservation enhances the resilience of the lizard liolaemus cuyumhue to high summer temperatures |
| topic | Microhabitat selection Body temperature Habitat disturbance Lizard´s conservation |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-83845-y |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT mariavictoriabrizio habitatconservationenhancestheresilienceofthelizardliolaemuscuyumhuetohighsummertemperatures AT facundocabezascartes habitatconservationenhancestheresilienceofthelizardliolaemuscuyumhuetohighsummertemperatures AT lucianojavieravila habitatconservationenhancestheresilienceofthelizardliolaemuscuyumhuetohighsummertemperatures AT jorgelinamarielaboretto habitatconservationenhancestheresilienceofthelizardliolaemuscuyumhuetohighsummertemperatures |