Authors: Kiefer, Mara C.¹; Van Sluys, Monique²; Rocha, Carlos F. D.²

Source: Acta Zoologica, Volume 88, Number 1, January 2007 , pp. 81-87(7)

Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell

Abstract:

Kiefer, M.C., Van Sluys, M. and Rocha, C.F.D. 2007. Thermoregulatory behaviour in Tropidurus torquatus (Squamata, Tropiduridae) from Brazilian coastal populations: an estimate of passive and active thermoregulation in lizards. —Acta Zoologica (Stockholm) 88: 81-87

Geographical variation in the degree of thermoregulatory behaviour of the lizard Tropidurus torquatus was studied in 10 restinga populations along approximately 1500 km of Brazilian coast. An index of thermoregulation was estimated using the difference between body and environmental (air and substrate) temperatures and the percentage of negative values for these differences (proportion of body temperatures lower than environmental temperatures). In most populations, the lizards primarily used active thermoregulation, through behavioural means, and mainly in relation to substrate temperatures. Along the restingas, the degree of active thermoregulation increased as a function of the increase in the local environmental temperatures along the restingas. Behavioural thermoregulation of T. torquatus helps the lizards to maintain their body temperatures within an optimal range in which to perform their normal daily activities.

Keywords: geographical ecology; restinga habitat; thermal ecology; thermoregulatory behaviour; Tropidurus torquatus

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1463-6395.2007.00254.x

Affiliations: 1: Curso de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Caixa Postal 6109, 13081-970 Campinas, SP, Brazil; 2: Departamento de Ecologia, IBRAG, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rua São Francisco Xavier 524, Maracanã, 20550-019 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil

Publication date: 2007-01-01

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