Thermoregulation in Desert Lizards Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Thermoregulation in Desert Lizards - Essay manakinAmong ectotherms, lizards inhabiting tropical regions are most likely to be bear upon since biodiversity in their habitats are most affected (Meek 1). Change in temperatures affects lizards in terms of thermoregulation mechanisms, energy expenditure, as well as biologic activity. investigating on how temperature diverges, caused by global melting, are affecting lizards is of utmost importance especially considering that lizards are at a high-pitched risk of extinction. According to Huey et al, Forest lizards are key components of tropical ecosystems, but count vulner fitted to the cascading physiological and ecological effects of climate warming, even though rates of tropical warming may be relatively low (Huey et al 1939-1940). This paper explores the effect of global warming on thermoregulation mechanisms of lizards. Strategies to Thermoregulation of Desert Lizard According to theories of evolution, thermoregulatory mechanis ms in many species especially reptiles has evolved with time in response to ever-changing climatic conditions (Huey et al 1939-1942). Changes in climatic conditions cause increase in temperature variations forcing lizards to adopt both biological and lookal temperature regulation mechanisms in order to cope with changing weather conditions. According to Meek, The evolution of thermoregulatory behavior in reptiles almost certainly arose because milieus are not usually thermally stable but vacillate both on a daily or seasonal basis or because of uneven set off distributions within environments (Meek 1). Meek hypothesized that any thermoregulation mechanism adopted by lizards comes at costs and benefits. For instance, lguanid lizard inhabiting high altitudes where temperatures are extremely low use ground vegetation for insulation. It was observed that the lizards could raise their body temperature to some 35degrees by basking on the sun for two hours. They could then return to t heir shelters and maintain their body temperature for the whole afternoon. However, much(prenominal) a thermoregulatory mechanism comes at a cost since the lizards remain inactive, minimal habitat utilization, and increased basking (Meek 1). These findings tally with findings by Kearney et al Warmer environments also may increase maintenance energy costs season simultaneously constraining activity time, putting pressure on mass, and energy budgets (Kearney et al 1). One of behavioural mechanisms adopted by lizard is change of body color in relation to surrounding environment temperatures. According to Bradshaw, this type of behavior enables the desert lizard to maintain its body temperature in a habitual range. As the temperature goes d admit the lizard turns into black. Black color is a good absorber of heat and hence it is able to absorb heat faster from the environment. Once the environmental temperature rises, light color becomes prominent. This turns the heat away and enabl es the lizard to cool its body. This explains why desert lizards are light in color as compared to lizards in chilly regions (Bradshaw 90). Besides being a thermoregulatory mechanism, a study by Bujes and Verrastro found out that color change was also found to be a camouflage mechanism (Bujes and Verrastro 1). Activity of the Lizard in several(predicate) Seasons The most important factor in behavioral regulation of temperature in desert lizards is use of burrows. Indeed, varied studies have pointed to the same fact that desert lizards spend almost 75% of their lifetime in burrows passim annual season. These burrows offer temporary rescue or long-term survival mechanism. Lizards either dig their own burrows or use already existing ones (Bradshaw 166). Similar findings were found by The activity of