ELEVATION-DRIVEN VARIATION IN THERMAL TOLERANCE AND METABOLIC PERFORMANCE IN A HIGH-ALTITUDE LIZARD
Abstract
In ectothermic reptiles, there are distinct thermal environments due to elevational gradients, which clearly affect physiological performance. High-elevation lizards are very valuable for insights into the effects of environmental variability on traits of thermal tolerance, body temperature regulation, and energy expenditure. This study investigated elevation-driven variation in thermal tolerance and metabolic performance in a high-altitude lizard using a quantitative secondary data analysis approach. Ecological and physiological records of Phrynocephalus vlangalii were analyzed, including elevation, air temperature, surface temperature, body temperature, CTmin, CTmax, preferred temperature, body
size, and metabolic rate. Descriptive statistics, Shapiro–Wilk normality testing, Spearman correlation analysis, Kruskal– Wallis testing, and multiple linear regression were applied to evaluate relationships among variables. Body temperature declined with increasing elevation and showed strong positive associations with both air temperature and surface temperature. Surface temperature emerged as the strongest predictor of body temperature. CTmin differed significantly among elevations and decreased at higher elevations, indicating enhanced cold tolerance, whereas CTmax remained relatively stable across populations. Preferred temperature also varied significantly, with the lowest values recorded at
4200 m. Total metabolic rate was highest at the highest elevation, suggesting greater energetic demand under colder environmental conditions. Overall, elevation influenced multiple physiological traits, demonstrating that high-altitude lizards may persist through a combination of thermal tolerance adjustment, microhabitat-dependent thermoregulation, and metabolic compensation under alpine conditions.
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