Effects of global climate change on an abundant and widely distributed reptile (Amalosia lesueurii)
- Publication Type:
- Thesis
- Issue Date:
- 2019
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Reptiles are susceptible to changes in climate because their physiology and behaviour is strongly influenced by temperature. However, reptiles may adapt to shifts in climate migrating to new areas or altering their nesting behaviour in ways that buffer embryos from thermal stress. In this thesis, I investigated geographic variation in nest site selection in the velvet gecko (๐๐ฎ๐ข๐ญ๐ฐ๐ด๐ช๐ข ๐ญ๐ฆ๐ด๐ถ๐ฆ๐ถ๐ณ๐ช๐ช), a widely distributed and abundant lizard species. To assess how this species might shift its geographic range in future, I modelled the species current and future distribution using the algorithm MaxEnt.
To examine plasticity in speciesโ nest-site selection, I compared the thermal regimes, physical structure and incident light variables of nests in two geographically distant populations (Morton National Park and Yengo National Park). I found strong positive correlations between air temperatures and nest temperatures, with temperatures in some nests exceeding the speciesโ critical thermal maximum during summer heatwaves. Both populations differed in the physical structure, incident light and thermal characteristics of nest sites, so that mean nest temperatures did not differ between locations. Notably, females from the southern population selected more open nest sites than females from the northern population, suggesting that females can adjust nest-site choice to suit local environments. However, nests in the northern population experienced much higher daily maximum temperatures than nests from the southern population, which could have negative consequences for hatching success during hot summers.
To predict the geckosโ future distribution, I used a correlative modelling approach in MaxEnt. Modelling showed that the species has a high predicted occurrence across the Sydney Basin, the New England Tablelands, and the southern part of New South Wales (NSW) North Coast. The most important predictor variable in my models was the mean temperature of the warmest quarter. Potentially, the effects of air temperatures on the embryonic life stage may influence the species distribution. The species is predicted to suffer range contractions under future climatic conditions for every emission scenario. The greatest losses are likely to occur around the Sydney Basin region and New England Tablelands. Loss of the velvet gecko from the Sydney region would have serious consequences for the persistence of the vulnerable broad-headed snake (๐๐ฐ๐ฑ๐ญ๐ฐ๐ค๐ฆ๐ฑ๐ฉ๐ข๐ญ๐ถ๐ด ๐ฃ๐ถ๐ฏ๐จ๐ข๐ณ๐ฐ๐ช๐ฅ๐ฆ๐ด) which relies on geckos as the main food source. My study gives an insight of the threats and general effects of the rising temperature on an abundant and widely distributed Australian reptile.
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