Monteverde Institute: Tropical Ecology and Conservation

Alternative Title

Comportamiento termoregulatorio de la lagartija Sceloporus malachiticus

Creator

Sofia Vámos

Files

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Publication Date

June 2018

Abstract

Most species of lizards control their thermoregulation through certain behaviors. This can include basking under the sun and moving into shade, changing body position in relation to the sun and moving to shaded regions. In this project I observed two different Sceloporus malachiticus lizard groups to evaluate their thermoregulatory behaviors. I evaluated the aspects of body, substrate and air temperatures, behavior and flight distances for both groups. My results showed that while air and substrate temperatures were significant factors in the lizard’s thermoregulation, substrate temperatures played a stronger role. Furthermore, lizards showed increased activity earlier in the mornings and exhibited resting behaviors through most of the days. There was no significant correlation found between flight distance and body temperature.

Resumen

La mayoría de las especies de lagartijas controlan su termorregulación a través de determinados comportamientos. Estos incluyen asolearse y ponerse a la sombra, cambiar la posición de sus cuerpos con relación al sol y moverse a sitios sombreados. En este estudio, observé dos grupos de Sceloporus malachiticus para evaluar sus comportamientos de termoregulación. Evalué en los dos grupos la temperatura de cuerpo, la temperatura del aire y del substrato, así como sus distancias de escape (conocidas en la literatura como “flight distances”). Mis resultados muestran que tanto las temperaturas del aire y del substrato son factores significativos en la termorregulación de estas lagartijas, pero que el substrato es más importante. Las lagartijas mostraron un aumento de actividad en horas más tempranas y descansaron la mayor parte de las tardes. No hubo una correlación significativa de las distancias de escape y la temperatura corporal.

Keywords

Lizards, Lizards--Behavior, EAP Spring 2018

Palabras claves

Lagartijas, Lagartijas--Comportamiento, EAP Primavera 2018

Extent

12 pages

Geographic Location

Monteverde (Puntarenas, Costa Rica)

Holding Location

Monteverde Institute

Language

English; Spanish

Media Type

Articles

Format

Digital Only

Type

Book

Thermoregulatory behavior of Sceloporus malachiticus, June 2018

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