The vulnerability of developing embryos to simulated climate warming differs between sympatric desert lizards

• Published in: Journal of experimental zoology. Part A, Ecological and integrative physiology Ecological and integrative physiology, 2018-04, Vol.329 (4-5), p.252-261
• Main Authors: Ma, Liang, Sun, Bao‐Jun, Li, Shu‐Ran, Hao, Xin, Bi, Jun‐Huai, Du, Wei‐Guo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Climate Change; climate warming; Ecosystem; embryonic development; Lizards - embryology; Lizards - genetics; microhabitat; nest temperature; physiological divergence; Species Specificity; sympatric species; Temperature
• ISSN: 2471-5638; 2471-5646
• DOI: 10.1002/jez.2179

The vulnerability of species to climate warming varies along latitudinal and elevational clines, but how sympatric species vary in vulnerability to climate warming remains largely unknown. We experimentally simulated nest temperatures of two sympatric lizards with divergent microhabitat preferences (Phrynocephalus przewalskii and Eremias argus), under climate warming senarios, to determine the response of embryos to increased mean temperatures and heat waves. Our study demonstrated that simulated climate warming reduced hatching success and hatchling size and growth in E. argus (that prefers closed microhabitats), but had less effect in P. przewalskii (that occupies open microhabitats). The reduced growth rate of E. argus hatchlings was associated with a decrease in metabolic rate, which was more evident in hatchling E. argus than in P. przewalskii. Our results suggest lizards that prefer closed microhabitats may be more vulnerable to climate warming than those that prefer open microhabitats; further studies are needed to test this hypothesis. More generally, the divergent responses of sympatric species to climate warming highlights the importance of distinguishing the thermal sensitivity of behavior and physiology for each species of a community, in order to make predictions about the impacts of climate warming at regional scales. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT Our study reveals divergent responses between sympatric species to climate warming (including heat waves). And we highlight the importance of distinguishing the thermal sensitivity of behavior and physiology in each species of a community, and of considering the response of each species as a unit of interest rather than simply the response of the community as a whole. We provide a more detailed picture of the impact of climate warming on organisms, allowing us to predict outcomes and develop more effective conservation strategies .