Temperature and barometric pressure affect the activity intensity and movement of an endangered thermoconforming lizard

Abstract

AbstractGlobal warming is expected to affect movement‐related thermoregulation in ectotherms, but the likely effects on thermoconforming lizards, which spend little energy in thermoregulation behavior, are unclear. We used the Guatemalan beaded lizard (Heloderma charlesbogerti) as a model thermoconforming species to investigate the effects of ambient temperature and barometric pressure (a cue for rain in the study area) on activity intensity and the structure of movement paths. We tracked 12 individuals over a total of 148 animal days during the wet season of 2019 using Global Positioning System tags and triaxial accelerometry. We found a clear positive effect of ambient temperature on activity (using vectorial dynamic body acceleration [VeDBA]) and step length of lizard movements. The movement also became more directional (longer step lengths and smaller turning angles) with increasing ambient temperatures. There was a small negative effect of barometric pressure on VeDBA. We propose that our patterns are indicative of internal state changes in the animals, as they move from a state of hunger, eliciting foraging, which is enhanced by lower temperatures and rainfall to a thermally stressed state, which initiates shelter‐seeking. Our findings highlight the sensitivity of this species to temperature change, show that not all thermoconforming lizards are thermal generalists, and indicate that predicted regional increases in temperature and reduction in rainfall are likely to negatively impact this species by reducing the width of their operational thermal window.