Lizards' Hot Summer: How Habitats Affect Their Survival

Hot climates are not just for beach holidays for reptiles. For a lizard species in Argentina , like the L. cuyumhue, the type of habitat they call home is critical during hot summers. In Argentina, the lizard Liolaemus cuyumhue has to deal with rising temperatures. This does not just happen on its own. Oil and gas activities impact vegetation. In turn, this affects lizards' behaviors and survival. A study assessed how changes in habitat and temperatures affected Liolaemus cuyumhue. Scientists and researchers looked at two different locations. One was heavily impacted or disturbed. The other was untouched or undisturbed by human activities. During a series of field trips between September and March, these researchers went out searching for these lizards. They kept a close eye on their body temperatures, and the conditions of these lizards. They measured the temperature of the air, ground, their body size, and sex. They also noted the characteristics of the habitat around them. They also looked at the temperatures that the lizards experienced. The undisturbed site was clearly better for the lizards. It had lots of vegetation, and as a result, a cooler atmosphere. The disturbed site, on the other hand, had more bare ground and higher temperatures. Lizards were under a lot of stress at this site. They chose areas with more vegitation and less bare ground. Capturing lizards in these harsh conditions was more of a challenge. It is evident that habitat plays a big role in shaping a lizard's survival. So, maintaining and restoring vegetation can be a step towards ensuring that lizards are thriving even when we see global warming. It may seem a small step but it is a big one. Oil and gas activities disrupt habitats. This has a domino effect on these lizards. As a result the lizards may not be able to regulate their body temperatures.