One Solution for Two Challenges: The Lizard <i>Microlophus atacamensis</i> Avoids Overheating by Foraging in Intertidal Shores

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dc.contributor.authorSepulveda, Maritza
dc.contributor.authorSabat, Pablo
dc.contributor.authorPorter, Warren P.
dc.contributor.authorMiguel Farina, Jose
dc.date.accessioned2025-01-23T21:42:53Z
dc.date.available2025-01-23T21:42:53Z
dc.date.issued2014
dc.description.abstractIn lizards, one of the most important behavioral mechanisms to cope with spatial and temporal variations in thermal resources observed is activity time. The longer a lizard can maintain activity, the more time it has to forage and reach larger adult body size. We studied the behavioral adjustments to different climatic regimens on daily and seasonal scales in three natural populations of the lizard Microlophus atacamensis along a latitudinal temperature and rainfall gradient. We also used Niche Mapper to determinate the amount of thermally suitable time for activity for this species. Abundance and daily activity patterns varied greatly over the year for the three populations. In summer and spring, the daily activity times were greater, and were reduced in fall and winter seasons. In summer, when stressful heat loads should prohibit activity over a midday gap, lizards did not show bimodal patterns of activity. Instead, they move to the cooler intertidal habitat. Abundance and thermal quality in the southernmost coolest site was lower, and the potential annual activity time decreases with latitude. Contrary to expectations, lizards from this locality showed the largest body sizes possibly due to diet and/or time to sexual maturation. Our results indicate that the intertidal habitat is a key factor that influences daily and seasonal activity of M. atacamensis lizards. While this habitat is not climatically optimal for lizards, it allows them to behaviorally extend their activity window and gain access to food in the intertidal areas.
dc.fuente.origenWOS
dc.identifier.doi10.1371/journal.pone.0097735
dc.identifier.issn1932-6203
dc.identifier.urihttps://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0097735
dc.identifier.urihttps://repositorio.uc.cl/handle/11534/101666
dc.identifier.wosidWOS:000340948600064
dc.issue.numero5
dc.language.isoen
dc.revistaPlos one
dc.rightsacceso restringido
dc.subject.ods15 Life on Land
dc.subject.ods13 Climate Action
dc.subject.odspa15 Vida de ecosistemas terrestres
dc.subject.odspa13 Acción por el clima
dc.titleOne Solution for Two Challenges: The Lizard <i>Microlophus atacamensis</i> Avoids Overheating by Foraging in Intertidal Shores
dc.typeartículo
dc.volumen9
sipa.indexWOS
sipa.trazabilidadWOS;2025-01-12
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