Use of cacti as heat sources by thermoregulating Mabuya agilis (Raddi) and Mabuya macrorhyncha Hoge (Lacertflia, Scincidae) in two restinga habitats in southeastern Brazil

Vrcibradic, Davor; Rocha, Carlos Frederico Duarte

doi:10.1590/S0101-81752002000100005

Abstract

Lizards may benefit from gain of heat from contact with the substrate via conduction. In this study, evidence that the lizards Mabuya agilis (Raddi, 1823) and Mabuya macrorhynclui Hoge, 1946 (Scincidae) inhabiting two restinga habitats in southeastern Brazil (Grussaf, Rio de Janeiro and Praia das Neves, Espfrito Santo), may shift microhabitat preferences along the day, and that such shifts may be related to the use of cacti surfaces as direct sources of heat is presented. For both species, body temperature (Tb) was always significantly correlated (p < 0,05) with air temperature (Ta). Tb was significantly correlated (p < 0,0.5) with substrate temperature (Ts) for M. agilis collected on cacti, but not for specimens collected on the ground. For M. macrorhyncha collected on cacti, both Ta and Ts were more important in conjunction than separately, in explaining lizard Tb. Use of cacti as perches by M. agilis was more frequent during late afternoon when environmental temperatures are declining, but such a trend was not evident for M. macrorhynclui. We suggest that the use of cacti as direct heat sources may be more evident in the ground-dwelling M. agilis than in the scansorial M. macrorhynclui.

Mabuya; lizard; thermoregulation; cacti; heat gain by conduction; restinga habitat; Southeast Brazil

Use of cacti as heat sources by thermoregulating Mabuya agilis (Raddi) and Mabuya macrorhyncha Hoge (Lacertflia, Scincidae) in two restinga habitats in southeastern Brazil

Davor Vrcibradic^I,II; Carlos Frederico Duarte Rocha^I,III

^ISetor de ecologia, IBRAG, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro. Rua São Francisco Xavier 524, Maracanã, 20550-015 Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil

^IIPós-Graduação em Ecologia, Departamento de Zoologia, Universidade Estadual de Campinas. Caixa Postal 6106, 13081-970 Campinas, São Paulo, Brasil

^IIICorresponding author. E-mail: cfdrocha@uerj.br

ABSTRACT

Lizards may benefit from gain of heat from contact with the substrate via conduction. In this study, evidence that the lizards Mabuya agilis (Raddi, 1823) and Mabuya macrorhynclui Hoge, 1946 (Scincidae) inhabiting two restinga habitats in southeastern Brazil (Grussaf, Rio de Janeiro and Praia das Neves, Espfrito Santo), may shift microhabitat preferences along the day, and that such shifts may be related to the use of cacti surfaces as direct sources of heat is presented. For both species, body temperature (T_b) was always significantly correlated (p < 0,05) with air temperature (T_a). Tb was significantly correlated (p < 0,0.5) with substrate temperature (T_s) for M. agilis collected on cacti, but not for specimens collected on the ground. For M. macrorhyncha collected on cacti, both T_a and T_s were more important in conjunction than separately, in explaining lizard T_b. Use of cacti as perches by M. agilis was more frequent during late afternoon when environmental temperatures are declining, but such a trend was not evident for M. macrorhynclui. We suggest that the use of cacti as direct heat sources may be more evident in the ground-dwelling M. agilis than in the scansorial M. macrorhynclui.

Key words:Mabuya, lizard, thermoregulation, cacti, heat gain by conduction, restinga habitat, Southeast Brazil

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. This study is a portion ofthe results of the "Programa de Ecologia, Conservação e Manejo de Ecossistemas do Sudeste Brasileiro" and of the Southeastern Brazilian Vertebrate Ecology Project (Laboratory ofVertebrate Ecology), both of the Setor de Ecologia, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro. The study was partially supported by research grants from the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico - CNPq to C.F.D.R. (processes # 300819/94-3 and # 461970/00-7) and to D.V. (process # 143607/98-7) and from the Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro - FAPERJ (process E-26/170.385/97 - APQI) to the second author.

Recebido em 19.X.2000: aceito em 29.I.2002.

Adolph, S.A. 1990. Influence of behavioral thermoregulation on microhabitat use by two Sceloporus lizards. Ecology 71: 315-327.
Araújo, A.F.B. 1994. Comunidades de lagartos brasileiros, p. 39-57. In: A.T. Bernardes; L.B. Nascimento & G.A. Cotta (Eds). Herpetologia do Brasil I. Belo Horizonte, Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Minas Gerais, 134p.
Bergallo, H.G. & C.F.D. Rocha. 1994. Spatial and trophic niche differentiation in two sympatric lizards (Tropidurus turqualus and Cnemidophorus ocellifer) with different foraging tactics. Austr. Jour. Ecol. 19: 17-25.
Christian, K.; C.R. Tracy & W.P. Porter. 1983. Seasonal shifts in body temperature and use of microhabitats by Galapagos land iguanas (Conolophus pallidus). Ecology 64: 463-468.
Eiten, G. 1992. Natural Brazilian vegetation types and their causes. An. Acad. Bras. Ciênc. 64 (Suppl. 1): 35-65.
Fialho, R.F. 1990. Seed dispersal by a lizard and a treefrog: effect of dispersal site on seed survivorship. Biotropica 22: 423-424.
Gandolfi, S.M. & C.F.D. Rocha. 1998. Orientation ofthermoregulating Tropidurus torqualus (Sauria: Tropiduridae) on termite mounds in an openareaofsouth-eastern Brazil. Amphib.-Reptilia. Leiden, 19: 319-323.
Geiger, R. 1965. The climate near the ground. Cambridge, Harvard University Press, 600p.
Heatwole. H. 1970. Thermal ecology of the desert dragon Amphibolurus inermis. Ecol. Mongr., Washington D.C.. 40: 425-457.
Heatwole, H. & J. Taylor. 1987. Ecology of Reptiles. Chipping Norton, Surrey Beatty & Sons, 325p.
Hertz, P.E. & R.B. Huey. 1981. Compensation for altitudinal changes in the thermal environment by some Anolis lizards on Hispaniola. Ecology 62: 515-521.
Huey, R.B.; E.R. Pianka & J.A. Hoffmann. 1977. Seasonal variation inthermorregulatory behavior and body temperature of diurnal Kalahari lizards. Ecology 58: 1066-1075.
Porter, W.P.; J.W. Mitchell; W.A. Beckman & C.B. Dewitt. 1973. Behavioral implications of mechanistic ecology. Occologia 13: 1-54.
Rand, A.S. & PJ. Rand. 1966. Aspects of the ecology of the iguanid lizard Tropidurus torquatus at Belém, Pará. Smithson. Misc. Coll. 151: 1-16.
Rocha, C.F.D. 1988. Ritmo de atividade e microclimatologia do habitat de Liolaeimis lutzae (Sauria: Iguanidae). In: An. VI Semin. Reg. Ecol., São Carlos, p. 269-281.
______. 1998. Composição e organização da comunidade de répteis da área de Mata Atlântica da região de Linhares, Espírito Santo. In: An. VIII Semin. Reg. Ecol., São Carlos, 2, p. 869-881.
______. 2000. Biogeografia de répteis de restingas: distribuição, ocorrência e endemismos, p. 99-116. In: F.A. Esteves & L.D. Lacerda (Eds). Ecologia de Restingas e Lagoas Costeiras. Macaé, NUPEM/UFRJ, 394p.
Rocha, C.F.D. & H.G. Bergallo. 1990. Thermal biology and flight distance of Tropidurus oreadicus (Sauria: Iguanidae) in na area of Amazonian Brazil. Ecol, Ethol. Evol. 2: 263-268.
______. 1997. Intercommunity variation in the distribution of abundance of dominant lizard species in restingahabitats. Ci. Cult. 49: 269-274.
Rocha, C.F.D. & D. Vrcibradic. 1996. Thermal biology of two sympatric skinks (Mabuya macrorhyncha and Mabuya agilis) in a Brazilian restinga habitat. Austr. Jour. Ecol, 21: 110-113.
Stevenson, R.D. 1985. The relative importance ofbehavioral and physiological adjustments controlling body temperature in terrestrial ectotherms. Amer. Nat. 126: 362-386.
Suguio, T. & M.G. Tessler. 1984. Planícies de cordões litorâneos quaternários do Brasil, p. 15-25. In: L.D. Lacerda: D.S.D. Araujo; R. Cerqueira & B. Turcq (Eds). Restingas: Origem, Estrutura, Processos. Niterói, Centro Editorial da Universidade Federal Fluminense, 475p.
Teixeira-Filho, P.: S. Ribas & C.F.D. Rocha. 1995. Aspectos da ecologia termal e uso do habitat por Ciieinidophorus ocellifer (Sauria, Teiidae) na restinga da Barra de Maricá, RJ, p. 155-165. In: F.A. Esteves (Ed). Oecologia Brasiliensis 1: Estrutura, Funcionamento e Manejo de Ecossistemas Brasileiros. Rio de Janeiro, Instituto de Biologia UFRJ, 597p.
Teixeira-Filho, P.; C.F.D. Rocha & S. Ribas. 1996. Ecologia termal e uso do habitat por Tropidurus lorqualiis (Sauria: Tropiduridae) em uma área de restinga do sudeste do Brasil, p. 255-267. In: J.E. Péfaur (Ed). Herpetologia Neotropical, Actas del II Congreso Latinoamericano de Herpetologia - II Volumen. Merida, Consejo de Publicaciones, Universidad de Los Andes, 451 p.
Vrcibradic, D. & C.F.D. Rocha. 1996. Ecological differences in tropical sympatric skinks (Mabuya nmcrorhynclui and Mabuya agilis) in southeastern Brazil. Jour. Herpetol. 30: 60-67.
Zar, JH. 1999. Biostatistical Analysis. Upper Saddle River, Prentice-Hall, 663p.

Publication Dates

Publication in this collection
19 May 2009
Date of issue
Mar 2002

History

Accepted
29 Jan 2002
Received
19 Oct 2000

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

[1] Adolph, S.A. 1990. Influence of behavioral thermoregulation on microhabitat use by two Sceloporus lizards. Ecology 71: 315-327.

[2] Araújo, A.F.B. 1994. Comunidades de lagartos brasileiros, p. 39-57. In: A.T. Bernardes; L.B. Nascimento & G.A. Cotta (Eds). Herpetologia do Brasil I. Belo Horizonte, Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Minas Gerais, 134p.

[3] Bergallo, H.G. & C.F.D. Rocha. 1994. Spatial and trophic niche differentiation in two sympatric lizards (Tropidurus turqualus and Cnemidophorus ocellifer) with different foraging tactics. Austr. Jour. Ecol. 19: 17-25.

[4] Christian, K.; C.R. Tracy & W.P. Porter. 1983. Seasonal shifts in body temperature and use of microhabitats by Galapagos land iguanas (Conolophus pallidus). Ecology 64: 463-468.

[5] Eiten, G. 1992. Natural Brazilian vegetation types and their causes. An. Acad. Bras. Ciênc. 64 (Suppl. 1): 35-65.

[6] Fialho, R.F. 1990. Seed dispersal by a lizard and a treefrog: effect of dispersal site on seed survivorship. Biotropica 22: 423-424.

[7] Gandolfi, S.M. & C.F.D. Rocha. 1998. Orientation ofthermoregulating Tropidurus torqualus (Sauria: Tropiduridae) on termite mounds in an openareaofsouth-eastern Brazil. Amphib.-Reptilia. Leiden, 19: 319-323.

[8] Geiger, R. 1965. The climate near the ground. Cambridge, Harvard University Press, 600p.

[9] Heatwole. H. 1970. Thermal ecology of the desert dragon Amphibolurus inermis. Ecol. Mongr., Washington D.C.. 40: 425-457.

[10] Heatwole, H. & J. Taylor. 1987. Ecology of Reptiles. Chipping Norton, Surrey Beatty & Sons, 325p.

[11] Hertz, P.E. & R.B. Huey. 1981. Compensation for altitudinal changes in the thermal environment by some Anolis lizards on Hispaniola. Ecology 62: 515-521.

[12] Huey, R.B.; E.R. Pianka & J.A. Hoffmann. 1977. Seasonal variation inthermorregulatory behavior and body temperature of diurnal Kalahari lizards. Ecology 58: 1066-1075.

[13] Porter, W.P.; J.W. Mitchell; W.A. Beckman & C.B. Dewitt. 1973. Behavioral implications of mechanistic ecology. Occologia 13: 1-54.

[14] Rand, A.S. & PJ. Rand. 1966. Aspects of the ecology of the iguanid lizard Tropidurus torquatus at Belém, Pará. Smithson. Misc. Coll. 151: 1-16.

[15] Rocha, C.F.D. 1988. Ritmo de atividade e microclimatologia do habitat de Liolaeimis lutzae (Sauria: Iguanidae). In: An. VI Semin. Reg. Ecol., São Carlos, p. 269-281.

[16] ______. 1998. Composição e organização da comunidade de répteis da área de Mata Atlântica da região de Linhares, Espírito Santo. In: An. VIII Semin. Reg. Ecol., São Carlos, 2, p. 869-881.

[17] ______. 2000. Biogeografia de répteis de restingas: distribuição, ocorrência e endemismos, p. 99-116. In: F.A. Esteves & L.D. Lacerda (Eds). Ecologia de Restingas e Lagoas Costeiras. Macaé, NUPEM/UFRJ, 394p.

[18] Rocha, C.F.D. & H.G. Bergallo. 1990. Thermal biology and flight distance of Tropidurus oreadicus (Sauria: Iguanidae) in na area of Amazonian Brazil. Ecol, Ethol. Evol. 2: 263-268.

[19] ______. 1997. Intercommunity variation in the distribution of abundance of dominant lizard species in restingahabitats. Ci. Cult. 49: 269-274.

[20] Rocha, C.F.D. & D. Vrcibradic. 1996. Thermal biology of two sympatric skinks (Mabuya macrorhyncha and Mabuya agilis) in a Brazilian restinga habitat. Austr. Jour. Ecol, 21: 110-113.

[21] Stevenson, R.D. 1985. The relative importance ofbehavioral and physiological adjustments controlling body temperature in terrestrial ectotherms. Amer. Nat. 126: 362-386.

[22] Suguio, T. & M.G. Tessler. 1984. Planícies de cordões litorâneos quaternários do Brasil, p. 15-25. In: L.D. Lacerda: D.S.D. Araujo; R. Cerqueira & B. Turcq (Eds). Restingas: Origem, Estrutura, Processos. Niterói, Centro Editorial da Universidade Federal Fluminense, 475p.

[23] Teixeira-Filho, P.: S. Ribas & C.F.D. Rocha. 1995. Aspectos da ecologia termal e uso do habitat por Ciieinidophorus ocellifer (Sauria, Teiidae) na restinga da Barra de Maricá, RJ, p. 155-165. In: F.A. Esteves (Ed). Oecologia Brasiliensis 1: Estrutura, Funcionamento e Manejo de Ecossistemas Brasileiros. Rio de Janeiro, Instituto de Biologia UFRJ, 597p.

[24] Teixeira-Filho, P.; C.F.D. Rocha & S. Ribas. 1996. Ecologia termal e uso do habitat por Tropidurus lorqualiis (Sauria: Tropiduridae) em uma área de restinga do sudeste do Brasil, p. 255-267. In: J.E. Péfaur (Ed). Herpetologia Neotropical, Actas del II Congreso Latinoamericano de Herpetologia - II Volumen. Merida, Consejo de Publicaciones, Universidad de Los Andes, 451 p.

[25] Vrcibradic, D. & C.F.D. Rocha. 1996. Ecological differences in tropical sympatric skinks (Mabuya nmcrorhynclui and Mabuya agilis) in southeastern Brazil. Jour. Herpetol. 30: 60-67.

[26] Zar, JH. 1999. Biostatistical Analysis. Upper Saddle River, Prentice-Hall, 663p.