Date of Award
7-16-2012
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Biology
First Advisor
Robert Sikes
Second Advisor
Matthew Gifford
Abstract
Thermoregulation theory makes distinct predictions as to the optimal level of thermoregulation when the costs associated with the thermal habitat are less favorable. I designed a manipulative experiment to test the hypothesis that thermal constraints reduce growth rates in hatchling-collared lizards by imposing high and low cost thermoregulation treatments. Lizards thermoregulated similarly between treatments, but grew more slowly in the high cost thermoregulation treatment. My results suggest that the decrement to growth in the high cost treatment is primarily the result of energy diverted from growth to locomotion shuttling between suitable micro- habitats. I combined this experiment with a field study where I collected growth and body size data on central Arkansas collared lizard populations. Growth comparisons between central Arkansas and Missouri collared lizard populations suggest that the central Arkansas populations provide a suitable baseline to monitor Arkansas collared lizard populations in degrading habitats.
Recommended Citation
Brewster, Casey Lee, "Energetic Costs of Thermoregulation and Population Life-History Characterization in Eastern Collared Lizards" (2012). Theses and Dissertations. 373.
https://research.ualr.edu/etd/373
