Physiological and behavioral responses of lizards to changes in food quality and in thermal environments: an approach of the conservation physiology in front to the global climate change

• Grant number: 16/23599-3
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctorate
• Effective date (Start): April 01, 2017
• Effective date (End): February 28, 2021
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Physiology
• Cooperation agreement: Coordination of Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES)
• Principal researcher: Carlos Arturo Navas Iannini
• Grantee: Thiago Maia Ney Carneiro
• Home Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 14/16320-7 - Impacts of climate/environmental change on the fauna: an integrative approach, AP.PFPMCG.TEM

Abstract

It is expected alterations of the biotic environment due to human destruction and global warming, which may result in modification of lizards' diets due to influences in food availabilities and qualities. The reduced levels of discrepancy between ambient temperatures and thermal safety margins in the tropics and subtropics are suggesting that populations of ectothermic organisms are close to surpass or have exceeded the limit where conditions allow the appropriate use of thermal components of the niches. These impacts may affect physiological and behavioral aspects and impose restrictions on the maintenance of long-term viable populations. Knowledge about compensatory abilities of lizards to mitigate the negative effects from climate change can predict harmful impacts on and responses of populations to environmental changes. Tropidurus torquatus is a lizard species with broad geographic distribution in South America with populations in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. In this project, I propose the conduction of an investigation with an ecophysiological approach related to the concept of Conservation Physiology, which assumes that populations may deteriorate because of environmental change. The questions to answer are linked to three main axes: (1) indirect effect of the environment on the physiological adjustment, (2) the impact of thermal change on the ecological performance and (3) compensation via behavioral and physiological adjustments. I shall evaluate whether the nutritional quality of the diet influences metabolic rates and capabilities of thermal acclimation and whether food quality and thermal environments influence the locomotor performance and the selection of temperatures by individuals. (AU)