Thermal ecology of five remaining populations of an endangered lizard (Liolaemus lutzae) in different restinga habitats in Brazil

Abstract

We studied the thermal ecology of five populations (Marambaia, Barra de Marica, Praia Grande, Praia do Foguete and Praia do Pero) of the endemic and endangered liolaemid lizard Liolaemus lutzae along its geographic range in coastal Rio de Janeiro state. Our aims were to analyze to what extent populations differ in mean body temperature and to evaluate the effect of some local environmental factors (such as air and substrate temperatures in the microhabitat and wind intensity) on lizard body temperature. Lizards were manually collected during its period of activity (7 to 18 h) from late February to early April 2012 (rainy season), always under similar weather conditions (sunny days). The body and environmental temperatures as well as wind intensity were taken immediately after capture at the same point where each lizard was initially sighted. The mean body temperature of L. lutzae in activity (all populations pooled) was 33.2 ± 2.5 °C (range = 22.5–40.2; N = 242) and varied from 31.5 ± 2.6 °C (range = 25.4–36.2; N = 34) to 34.0 ± 2.2 °C (range = 29.1–39.2; N = 67), depending of the locality. However, after removing the effect of the local thermal environment no interpopulational differences remained, suggesting a relative conservativeness in body temperature for the species. Temperatures of air and substrate interact to influence body temperature of individuals locally. Air temperature decreased with the increase of wind intensity, suggesting an indirect effect of wind in lizard body temperatures. Sex or body size did not affect lizard body temperature. Mean and maximum air temperatures in Rio de Janeiro municipality show an increase since 1930’s.