Comparative Thermal Ecology of a Recently Urbanized and a Wild Population of Sceloporus olivaceous in San Antonio

Authors

Claudia Salazar
Aisha Abdirahman

Document Type

Conference Proceeding

Publication Date

2024

Abstract

The Texas Spiny Lizard, Sceloporus olivaceous, is a common lizard found in a variety of habitats throughout central Texas and northeastern Mexico. These lizards thrive in both urban and wild habitats where they experience vastly different temperatures. We studied two populations of this lizard to determine differences in their thermal ecology: one population living on the Texas A&M University – San Antonio campus and another population living in the adjacent scrub forest. We found no difference in body temperature between populations despite vast differences in habitat temperatures. This indicates that the lizards are actively seeking cooler or warmer sites within each habitat to maintain similar active body temperatures. Continuing studies of these two populations will compare differences in metabolic rate, thermal preference, and performance at ecologically-relevant temperatures.

Comments

Poster Session
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Recommended Citation

Salazar, Claudia and Abdirahman, Aisha, "Comparative Thermal Ecology of a Recently Urbanized and a Wild Population of Sceloporus olivaceous in San Antonio" (2024). Student Research Symposium 2024. 59.
https://digitalcommons.tamusa.edu/srs_2024/59