Life in the Lizard Slow Lane: Gila Monsters Have Low Rates of Energy Use and Water Flux

Gienger, C. M.; Tracy, C. Richard; Nagy, Kenneth A.

doi:10.1643/cp-13-086

Cited by 4 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 64 publications

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“…In years with higher precipitation sleepy lizards changed their behaviour over the course of the active season, with lizards most active in spring, and becoming less active towards summer when ambient temperatures increase and annual plants dry out and become unavailable as food [ 18 ]. Lizards generally reduce activity in less suitable ambient conditions [ 8 – 10 ], consequentially resulting in smaller home ranges. During the early part of the current study, the home range size of lizards without access to the dam (median = 1.4 ha) was substantially smaller than the average home range size of about 4 ha previously reported for this species in locations close by [ 31 , 32 ], whereas for those with access to the dam it was similar (median = 5.2).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Reptile species are abundant in semi- and arid environments in Australia. Their activity budgets are considered to be mainly driven by ambient temperatures and thermoregulatory behaviour [ 8 – 10 ]. However, reptilian activity is also influenced by hydration and water regulation [ 10 , 11 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Their activity budgets are considered to be mainly driven by ambient temperatures and thermoregulatory behaviour [ 8 – 10 ]. However, reptilian activity is also influenced by hydration and water regulation [ 10 , 11 ]. For example, most activity in the desert dwelling gila monster ( Heloderma suspectum ) follows rainfall periods [ 12 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Artificial Water Point for Livestock Influences Spatial Ecology of a Native Lizard Species

Leu

Bull

2016

PLoS ONE

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Pastoralism is a major agricultural activity in drier environments, and can directly and indirectly impact native species in those areas. We investigated how the supply of an artificial watering point to support grazing livestock affected movement and activity patterns of the Australian sleepy lizard (Tiliqua rugosa) during a drought year. We observed 23 adult lizards; six had access to a dam, whereas 17 lizards did not. Lizards with access to the dam had larger home ranges, were substantially active on more days (days with >100 steps), and moved more steps per day compared to lizards that did not have access to the dam, both during the early and late period of our observation. Furthermore, while the two groups of lizards had similar body condition early in the season, they differed later in the season. Lizards with dam access retained, whereas lizards without access lost body condition. Local heterogeneity in access to an artificial water resource resulted in spatially dependent behavioural variation among sleepy lizard individuals. This suggests that sleepy lizards have flexible responses to changing climatic conditions, depending on the availability of water. Furthermore, while reducing activity appears a suitable short term strategy, if harsh conditions persist, then access to dams could be of substantial benefit and could support sustained lizard activity and movement and allow maintenance of body condition. Hence, artificial watering points, such as the dams constructed by pastoralists, may provide local higher quality refugia for sleepy lizards and other species during drought conditions.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Artificial Water Point for Livestock Influences Spatial Ecology of a Native Lizard Species

Leu

Bull

2016

PLoS ONE

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“…Staying in a familiar area with close proximity to known shelters may be a strategy to reduce thermal risk and economize energy expenditure. Surface activity for foraging and mate acquisition is a proportionally large part of the annual energy budget (Gienger et al., 2014), so minimizing exploratory movements has potential energetic benefits, particularly in periods of low prey availability.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Gila monsters possess several physiological and behavioral adaptations for surviving periods of resource scarcity that result from environmental variation. They have an exceptionally low metabolic rate which, when paired with extreme inactivity, allows them to endure extended periods of resource scarcity (Beck & Lowe, 1994;Gienger et al, 2014). Beck (2005) estimated that a Gila monster can meet its minimum metabolic requirement with only three meals per year, and when more food is available, they can consume large quantities and store fat in their tails (Beck, 1990;Bogert & Mart ın del Campo, 1956;Stahnke, 1950).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Livin' la vida local: philopatry results in consistent patterns of annual space use in a long‐lived lizard

Stalker,

Jones,

Hromada

et al. 2023

Journal of Zoology

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For animals exhibiting range residency, the home range is a useful framework to quantify space use. Some reptiles can live decades in the wild and experience extreme environmental variation that influences patterns of habitat use. Individuals may modify their use of space over time, reducing the utility of single‐year home range estimates. Very high frequency (VHF) telemetry data were collected for Gila monsters (Heloderma suspectum) at three Mojave Desert sites in Clark County, Nevada, and home range utilization distributions were calculated using an autocorrelated kernel density estimator. Home range size was consistent within individuals and populations, and home range size did not vary across years at any site. To measure home range fidelity (year‐to‐year reuse), we calculated Bhattacharyya's coefficient (BC) for each combination of years in which an individual was tracked and averaged estimates across individuals and populations. The average BC score was 0.86 (scale from 0 to 1; 0 = no overlap and 1 = complete overlap) and did not vary among populations. We modeled home range area accumulation to estimate the minimum sample size needed for asymptotic stability and found home range accumulation to be dynamic and variable within and across years and individuals. Analysis of the frequency of movement by individuals, average distance traveled per movement, and cumulative distance traveled per active season revealed that movement patterns vary considerably by year. Heterogeneity of space use among populations and individuals suggests that individual and local environmental variation, rather than annual variation in resource availability, may drive home range size and movement patterns of Gila monsters in southern Nevada. Annual variability in movement patterns did not translate to variability in home range size or location, and the species exhibits extremely high philopatry, using the same areas for periods of at least 3–5 years.

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Acclimation, acclimatization, and seasonal variation in amphibians and reptiles

Lillywhite¹

2017

Amphibian and Reptile Adaptations to the Environment

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Life in the Lizard Slow Lane: Gila Monsters Have Low Rates of Energy Use and Water Flux

Cited by 4 publications

References 64 publications

Artificial Water Point for Livestock Influences Spatial Ecology of a Native Lizard Species

Artificial Water Point for Livestock Influences Spatial Ecology of a Native Lizard Species

Livin' la vida local: philopatry results in consistent patterns of annual space use in a long‐lived lizard

Acclimation, acclimatization, and seasonal variation in amphibians and reptiles

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