Study On Thermal Physiology And Behavioral Ecology Of Three Lizards In Central Inner Mongolia

This article from the perspective of thermal physiological and behavioral ecology to take the P.przewalskii belonging to Phrynocephalus genus and the E.argus?E.multiocellata belonging to Eremias genus as the research object.The resting respiratory metabolic rate and licomotion capacity of different lizard populations in two geographic areas were measured separately.The study focused on the thermal-physiological strategies underlying the sympatric occurrence of three desert lizard species and study the difference of lizard species between different geographical regions.1.thermal-physiological strategies of habitat selection separated in the sympatric occurrence three desert lizard species.Sympatric reptiles are the ideal system for investigating temperature-driven coexistence.It is necessary to understanding thermal physiological responses of sympatric lizards and revealing the physiological mechanisms that underpin the sympatric occurrence of reptiles.In this study,we used three lizard species,Eremias argus,E.multiocellata,and Phrynocephalus przewalskii,which are sympatric in the Inner Mongolia desert steppe zone,as a study system.By comparing their resting metabolic rate?RMR?and locomotion at different body temperatures,we aimed to better understand their physiological responses to thermal environments,which could explain why these lizards'sympatric co-existence occurs.Our results of this study showed that E.argus had significantly higher RMR and sprint speed than E.multiocellata,and higher RMR than P.przewalskii.Furthermore,the optimal temperature that maximized metabolic rates and locomotion for E.argus and E.multiocellata was 36°C,whereas for P.przewalskii it was39°C.The physiological response of these lizards to temperature indicates that these lizards have different temperature preference,microhabitat preference and active body temperature.In the wild,Eremias argus and E.multiocellata have lower body temperatures than Phrynocephalus przewalskii,and they rely on higher RMR and motor ability to compensate for their lower body temperatures.The study also highlights a comprehensive approach that combines behavior and physiology to explore the basis for codomain coexistence of ectothermic species.2.Comparison of thermal physiology and behavior of lizards in two geographic populations.The experimental animals were collected from the siziwang banner of Ulanqab,located in the northwest of Ulanqab,Inner Mongolia?42°21N,112°20E,Altitude 1458m?and on the eastern margin of the Kubuqi Desert in eastern ordos plateau Shierliancheng?40°21N,111°09E,Altitude 1100m?.Non-pregnant males and non-pregnant females were brought back to the laboratory,and lizards from different collection sites and species group were feed separately.In addition,Body data from the two places lizards were measured and compared with resting metabolic rate?RMR?and locomotion data at different body temperatures.By comparing of Eremias argu body data between two geographical region,there was no significant difference in Eremias argu body weight between the two geographic regions(F_1,42=2.952,P=0.093)but the snont-vent length is different(F_1,44=5.913,P=0.019),The snont-vent length of the Eremias argu population in Ulanqab is larger than that in Ordos.By comparing of P.przewalskii body data between two geographical regional.there was significant difference in P.przewalskii body weight(F_1,31=18.325,P<0.01)and snont-vent length(F_1,31=10.441,P=0.003)between the two geographic regions.The snont-vent length and body weight of P.przewalskii population in Ulanqab were significantly larger than that in Ordos population,body weight?BM?was positively correlated with snont-vent length?SVL?.By comparing the locomotor and metabolic data of these lizards between two geographical area.There were significant differences in locomotor ability?F=6.104,P=0.032?and metabolic rate?F=7.278,P=0.025?between the two geographic populations,and the locomotion and respiratory metabolic rate of Ulanqab Eremias argus population were higher than that of Ordos population;There was no significant difference in locomotor ability?F=2.696,P=0.139?and resting metabolic rate?F=0.165,P=.695?between the two geographical Phrynocephalus przewalskii populations.