Author: Matthew R. McTernan Publisher: ISBN: Category : Body temperature Languages : en Pages : 172
Book Description
Rapid climatic change is expected to pose extreme ecological and physiological challenges on many ectothermic vertebrates. Some ectothermic species are notable, however, for inhabiting wide geographic ranges and variety of climate zones. Studying how exemplars among ectotherms can behaviorally and physiologically accommodate differing temperature ranges should provide useful mechanistic perspectives on climate change challenges for less accomplished ectotherms. The western fence lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis) is one such exemplar, ranging from southern California to northern Washington. In Washington State, a single subspecies of this lizard occupies strongly contrasting climate zones. Thus, the focus of this thesis was to determine how this subspecies uses behavior and physiology to successfully inhabit these very different habitats within these climate zones. I chose to study Sceloporus occidentalis populations from the Sondino Ponds Unit in the Columbia River Gorge ("CRG"; mean max air = 38.9°C), Goat Wall in the North Cascades ("GW"; mean max air = 33°C), and along the coastal shores of the Salish Sea just north of Marysville ("CS"; mean max air = 27.7°C). In summer 2015 and 2016, to compare thermoregulatory capacity in the field among lizards at each of these contrasting climate zones, I measured field-active body temperatures (field-active Tb) of lizards immediately upon capture. To determine whether lizards may have needed to accept field-active Tb that were suboptimal -- presumably due to suboptimal thermal conditions -- I compared the distribution of a) field-active Tb among the three locales, and b) field-active Tb with preferred v body temperatures of alert-and-active lizards in the lab (lab Tb) where they were free to select precise body temperatures in a thermal gradient. To test for presence of temperature-dependent physiological differences among the three populations of lizards, I used a flow-through respirometry system in lab to measure whole-animal resting metabolic rates (RMR) -- lizards with digesting and assimilating food in their guts -- at three ecologically and physiologically relevant body temperatures (20°C, 28°C, and 36°C), as well as standard metabolic rates (SMR) -- lizards that were fasted and empty of foodstuff -- at 28°C Tb. Lizards at the warmest locale, CRG, had significantly higher field-active Tb than those at the cool coastal locale, CS (ANOVA, p=0.05; post hoc, p=0.045), but field-active Tb of lizards at the high-elevation, northern population, GW, were not significantly different from those of lizards at the other two locales. The distribution of field-active Tb of lizards from CRG skewed warmer than lab Tb (t-tests comparing upper quartile, p
Author: Vincent Bels Publisher: CRC Press ISBN: 0429640722 Category : Nature Languages : en Pages : 427
Book Description
Key features: Presents a contemporary snapshot of the mechanisms underlying the evolution and adaptation of behavior Explores how genetics, epigenetics, development, and environment shape behavior Discusses a broad range of behavioral repertoires and responses, including those related to thermoregulatory, foraging, predatory, displaying, social and escape strategies. Examines physiological and sensory mechanisms Covers the effects of various aspects of global change on behavior, with chapters that focus on the impacts of climate change on hydroregulatory behavior and behavioral responses to the effects of habitat alteration resulting from human-mediated change and colonization by invasive species. Lizards serve as focal organisms for many of biological questions related to evolution, ecology, physiology, and morphology. They are studied at multiple spatial and temporal scales, from the individual to the community level. This book, authored by expert contributors from around the world, explores behaviors underlying the evolution and adaptation of these organisms. It covers conceptual, empirical, and methodological approaches to the understanding of the role that natural and sexual selection play in molding the behavioral traits of lizards. This thorough, illustrated reference should stimulate discussion of the conceptual and methodological approaches for studying the behavioral traits of these fascinating and highly diverse vertebrates.
Author: William I. Lutterschmidt Publisher: ISBN: 9781628086201 Category : Nature Languages : en Pages : 0
Book Description
Reptiles demonstrate remarkable diversity across the landscape. From inland habitats of deserts and grasslands to coastal plains and oceans, the unique adaptations and life histories of reptiles have been shaped by a suite of abiotic and biotic factors. It is the interface between the organism and its environment that present biologists with the opportunity to explore how reptiles behaviorally and physiologically respond to their environments and to determine what factors govern their ecology. "Reptiles in Research: Investigations of Ecology, Physiology, and Behavior from Desert to Sea" will capture the interests of all readers with a text that is foundational for the novice herpetologist, while informative for beginning students and seasoned research scientists. This book offers its readers a glimpse into the passions of scientists who find reptiles fascinating creatures of study. You will see how reptiles serve as organismal models that continue to advance our knowledge and understanding of complex biological processes and systems. Dr. William I. Lutterschmidt (Professor of Physiological Ecology) has invited top researchers from around the world to share their personal research interests and illustrate how environment influences the ecology, physiology, and behavior of reptiles. This book will introduce a diversity of research fields and reptilian species, from how web-footed geckos move in desert sands to how sea snakes cope physiologically with high salinity. Topics include invasive species, urban ecology, mathematical simulation, sexual selection, hybridization and gene flow, chemical ecology, neurobiology, spatial ecology, conservation biology, biodiversity, immunology, and molecular biology.
Author: T. S. Kemp Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA ISBN: 0198806418 Category : Reptiles Languages : en Pages : 161
Book Description
From dinosaurs to lizards, snakes, and turtles, Tom Kemp considers the range of reptiles which have walked our Earth. Exploring how evolutionary adaptions have fitted them to their individual niches, he discusses their biology, such as cold bloodedness and feeding habits, and analyses why reptiles have been so successful throughout history.
Author: Krystal A. Tolley Publisher: Univ of California Press ISBN: 0520276051 Category : Science Languages : en Pages : 304
Book Description
They change color depending on their mood. They possess uniquely adapted hands and feet distinct from other tetrapods. They feature independently movable eyes. This comprehensive volume delves into these fascinating details and thorough research about one of the most charismatic families of reptilesÑChameleonidae. Written for professional herpetologists, scholars, researchers, and students, this book takes readers on a voyage across time to discover everything that is known about chameleon biology: anatomy, physiology, adaptations, ecology, behavior, biogeography, phylogeny, classification, and conservation. A description of the natural history of chameleons is given, along with the fossil record and typical characteristics of each genus. The state of chameleons in the modern world is also depicted, complete with new information on the most serious threats to these remarkable reptiles.
Author: Nereida Bueno-Guerra Publisher: Cambridge University Press ISBN: 110842032X Category : Medical Languages : en Pages : 459
Book Description
Leading researchers present current methodological approaches and future directions for a less anthropocentric study of animal cognition.
Author: Nicole Valenzuela Publisher: Smithsonian Institution Scholarly Press ISBN: Category : Science Languages : en Pages : 212
Book Description
Edited by the world's foremost authorities on the subject, with essays by leading scholars in the field, this work shows how the sex of reptiles and many fish is determined not by the chromosomes they inherit but by the temperature at which incubation takes place.
Author: Jonathan B. Losos Publisher: Univ of California Press ISBN: 0520269845 Category : Nature Languages : en Pages : 528
Book Description
"In a book both beautifully illustrated and deeply informative, Jonathan Losos, a leader in evolutionary ecology, celebrates and analyzes the diversity of the natural world that the fascinating anoline lizards epitomize. Readers who are drawn to nature by its beauty or its intellectual challenges—or both—will find his book rewarding."—Douglas J. Futuyma, State University of New York, Stony Brook "This book is destined to become a classic. It is scholarly, informative, stimulating, and highly readable, and will inspire a generation of students."—Peter R. Grant, author of How and Why Species Multiply: The Radiation of Darwin's Finches "Anoline lizards experienced a spectacular adaptive radiation in the dynamic landscape of the Caribbean islands. The radiation has extended over a long period of time and has featured separate radiations on the larger islands. Losos, the leading active student of these lizards, presents an integrated and synthetic overview, summarizing the enormous and multidimensional research literature. This engaging book makes a wonderful example of an adaptive radiation accessible to all, and the lavish illustrations, especially the photographs, make the anoles come alive in one's mind."—David Wake, University of California, Berkeley "This magnificent book is a celebration and synthesis of one of the most eventful adaptive radiations known. With disarming prose and personal narrative Jonathan Losos shows how an obsession, beginning at age ten, became a methodology and a research plan that, together with studies by colleagues and predecessors, culminated in many of the principles we now regard as true about the origins and maintenance of biodiversity. This work combines rigorous analysis and glorious natural history in a unique volume that stands with books by the Grants on Darwin's finches among the most informed and engaging accounts ever written on the evolution of a group of organisms in nature."—Dolph Schluter, author of The Ecology of Adaptive Radiation
Author: Clive Roots Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing USA ISBN: 0313083932 Category : Science Languages : en Pages : 241
Book Description
We share the earth with a wide variety of animal species, each of which brings something special to the diversity of the planet. By knowing more about how animals behave and live, we gain a greater understanding of how life evolved and the importance of biodiversity. Hibernation examines those animals that cannot migrate and are forced to remain in a habitat that is inhospitable and consequently sleep deeply for weeks or months. Known as hibernation for winter sleep and estivation for its summer equivalent, this unique trait involves many special behaviors — how do such animals prepare for sleep? where do they sleep? how do they store energy? how do they wake up? The book provides a thorough guide, perfect for research papers in biology classes, for understanding the behavior and biodiversity of a fascinating and unusual group of animals. Beautifully illustrated, with numerous color images, Hibernation provides copious material for understanding these unusual animals.
Author: Matthew R. McTernan
Author: Vincent Bels
Author: William I. Lutterschmidt
Author: T. S. Kemp
Author: Krystal A. Tolley
Author: Nereida Bueno-Guerra
Author: Nicole Valenzuela
Author: Jonathan B. Losos
Author: 
Author: Clive Roots