Thermal physiology of Tropical House Geckos (Hemidactylus mabouia) in a cool temperate region of South Africa.

Abstract

ABSTRACT Temperature profoundly influences the functioning of ectotherms and understanding the thermal biology of invasive species affords valuable insights regarding the suitability of different habitats. Yet, this remains an understudied aspect in the field of invasion biology. Here, we investigated the thermal physiology of the highly invasive Tropical House Gecko (Hemidactylus mabouia) in a coastal region of South Africa. The study site is near to the southernmost extent of the species’ distribution and we expected the physiology of individuals at the study site to differ compared to that of individuals inhabiting tropical regions. Relative to tropical geckos, we observed a decrease of 3.4°C in preferred body temperature (Tpref) to 24.0 °C, which was likely driven by selection for improved functioning within the cooler temperate climate. However, the lower (CTmin) and upper (CTmax) critical thermal limits were higher in geckos at the study site. CTmin was similar between sexes at 11.9 °C, whereas males had a higher CTmax by ≈ 1.9 °C reaching 39.7 °C. A broader tolerance range is typical of a highly variable climate, and we presume that the increase in CTmax allows geckos to better cope with occasional high temperatures. Further, sex-specific differences are uncommon in reptiles, but our study supports claims of improved heat tolerance in male geckos, argued to be related to their aggressive and territorial behaviour. The results also support claims that tropical geckos are more adaptable than previously thought, allowing them to invade new areas. Thereafter, their aggressive behaviour, dietary flexibility and year-round activity likely provides house geckos with a competitive advantage over some native reptiles.