The Effect Of Temperature Variation On Thermal Physiological Traits Of Oviparous And Viviparous Lizards

As global warming is an undisputed fact,how ectotherms(e.g.reptiles)respond to climate warming become a hot spot of research in the field of animal physiology and ecology.In this study,I used an oviparous speces of Eremias argus and a viviparous species of Eremias multiocellata as study subjects to investigate the variation of thermal sensitivity,and thermal tolerance among lizards or among individuals exposed to different thermal treatments.By integrating the inter-specific variations and acclimatory response of two lizards,I aim to reveal the inter-specific variation in thermal adaptation,providing theoretical basis and guidance for reptile conservation in the context of global warming.The two species of lizards were acclimated at high and low temperatures to examine the influence of temperature variation on thermal physiological traits.There were significant differences in active body temperatures among the two species of lizards.The active body temperature of lizards from the high-temperature group was higher than that of lizards from the low-temperature group.At the same time,the active body temperature of E.argus was lower than that of E.multiocellata.There were no differences in selected body temperature between E.argus and E.multiocellata.Thermal acclimation significantly affected the locomotion(sprint speed)of E.argus group and E.multiocellata.After acclimated to high temperature,E.argus ran fastest at 36℃,while E.multiocellata ran fastest at 32℃.After accimated to low temperatures,E.multiocellata ran fastest at 24℃.The critical thermal minimum did not differ between the two species of lizards after thermal acclimation.Thermal acclimation significantly affected the critical thermal maximum in E.multiocellata,but not in E.argus.There were significant differences in thermal tolerance among the two lizard species.E.argus was conservative in thermal tolerance when facing thermal acclimation.In the context of global warming,the poor acclimatory response to thermal variation in E.argus may reduce the fitness of this species.By contrast,E.multiocellata responds to thermal variation rapidly,which may confer selective advantages to this species.My study revealed that the evolutionary and acclimatory responses to thermal variation may differ significantly among reptiles with different reproductive modes.