Thermophysiological plasticity could buffer the effects of global warming on a Patagonian lizard

Abstract

Ecophysiological plasticity determines, to great extent, the geographic distribution and the vulnerability of ectotherms to climate change. We studied the relationship between locomotor performance and temperature of Liolaemus elongatus lizards in three populations in northern Patagonia, Argentina, differing in thermal characteristics. We related the thermophysiological and locomotor performance parameters with the environmental conditions currently experienced by these populations and analyzed whether the expected increment of the environmental temperature due to climate change could affect these vital traits. We also determined, for one of the populations, the effects of 30 acclimation-days at two temperature treatments (22 and 30 ºC) on running speed, thermal preference in the laboratory (Tpref), panting threshold, and minimum critical temperature. We found that L. elongatus, despite the differences in environmental temperatures among the three sites, exhibited maximum speed at similar temperatures (optimum temperature for locomotor performance; To). The southern populations currently experience temperatures below that required to reach their maximum locomotor performance while the northernmost population is threatened by peaks of high temperatures that exceed the To. Therefore, global warming could diminish lizards’ running performance in northern populations and lizards may spend more time refuging and less time on other activities such as feeding, territory defense, and dispersion. However, we show evidence of plasticity in L. elongatus locomotor performance when acclimated at high temperatures resulting in a potential advantage to cushion the effect of the rising environmental temperatures expected during climate change.