Could plasticity mediate highlands lizards’ resilience to climate change? A case study of the leopard iguana ( Diplolaemus leopardinus ) in central andes of Argentina

VICENZI, NADIA; BACIGALUPE, LEONARDO D.; LASPIUR, ALEJANDRO; IBARGÜENGOYTÍA, NORA; SASSI, PAOLA L.

JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY

COMPANY OF BIOLOGISTS LTD

Año: 2021

0022-0949

The rising temperature predicted is of main concern for ectotherms because its direct impact on their behavior and physiology. Since physiological performance mediates a species? resilience to warming exposure, physiological plasticity could greatly reduce the susceptibility to climate change. We studied the degree to which Diplolaemus leopardinus? lizards are able to adjust behavioral and physiological traits in response to short periods of temperature change. We used a split cross design to measure acclimation response of preferred body temperature (Tp), and thermal performance curve of resting metabolic rate (RMR) and evaporative water loss (EWL). Our results showed that plasticity differs among traits; whereas Tp and EWL showed lower values in warm conditions, RMR increased the temperature at which its value is highest. Moreover, RMR was affected by thermal history, showing a great increase in response to cold exposure in the group initially acclimated to warm. The reduction of EWL and the increase in optimal temperature will give lizards the potential to partially mitigate the impact of rising temperatures in the energy cost and water balance. However, the decrease in Tp and the sensitivity to the warm thermal history in RMR could be detrimental to the energy net gain increasing the species vulnerability, especially considering the increase of heat waves predicted for the next fifty years. The integration of acclimation responses in behavioral and physiological traits provides a better understanding of the range of possible responses of lizards to cope with the upcoming climatic and environmental modifications expected due to climate change.