Gontijo, A. S. B., Garcia, C. S., Righi, A. F., & Galdino, C. A. B. (2018). To warm on the rocks, to cool in the wind: Thermal relations of a small-sized lizard from a mountain environment. Journal of Thermal Biology, 76, 52–57.
Due to global warming, ectotherms (animals that rely on external sources of heat) are being forced to adapt to a changing environment. This study is examining the change in temperature amongst small lizards in order to understand their changing physiological processes and it can help in regards to preservation. Specifically, they are looking at a lizard in a mountainous environment and see how it relates to their thermal regulation processes. When measuring the lizards temperature they found that there was a linear relationship that showed the body temperature of individuals was positively related to rocky substrate temperatures, but negatively related to wind speed. Interestingly, they found that solar radiation and air temperature did not affect their body temperature. But they found that some lizards were 10 degrees celsius above their maximum body temperatures, but they are using the wind to counter the overheating. This could be an issue in the future, as temperatures increase. Also, lizards in nonmountainous areas, where there is not as much wind can face extinction.
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