Thermal responses to environmental constraints in two populations of the oviparous lizard Liolaemus bibronii in Patagonia, Argentina

MARLIN MEDINA; J. GUTIERREZ; A. SCOLARO Y N.R. IBARGÜENGOYTÍA.

JOURNAL OF THERMAL BIOLOGY

PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD

Año: 2009 vol. 34 p. 32 - 40

0306-4565

Abstract Ectotherms change their thermoregulation behaviour according to the available temperatures, photoperiod, and radiation present in their local environment. The influences of the abiotic environment not only affect the body temperature but also most life history traits of populations. The thermal biology of one of the southernmost oviparous lizard, Liolaemus bibronii, was studied at high- and low-latitude sites in Patagonia, Argentina, following the methodology of Hertz et al. [1993. Evaluating temperature regulation by field-active ectotherms: the fallacy of the inappropriate question. Am. Nat., 142, 796-818]. Our results show that L. bibronii lives under thermal-environmental constraints, behaves as a moderate thermoregulator, and shows the lowest body temperature (28ºC) for oviparous liolaemids. Key words: Squamata, oviparity, thermoregulation, cold climate, Liolaemus