Climate change and reduced shading restrict the activity period of a threatened tortoise in tropical dry forest
The vulnerability of biodiversity to climate change and habitat alterations is a growing global concern. In the case of reptiles, it has been widely documented that relatively small changes in temperature can have drastic effects on biological processes with significant ecological consequences. This...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2024-04-01
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| Series: | Global Ecology and Conservation |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2351989424000453 |
| _version_ | 1797272510481301504 |
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| author | Rafael A. Lara-Reséndiz Juan C. Álvarez-Yepiz Donald B. Miles Julia Joos Ana G. Pérez-Delgadillo Fausto R. Méndez-de la Cruz |
| author_facet | Rafael A. Lara-Reséndiz Juan C. Álvarez-Yepiz Donald B. Miles Julia Joos Ana G. Pérez-Delgadillo Fausto R. Méndez-de la Cruz |
| author_sort | Rafael A. Lara-Reséndiz |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The vulnerability of biodiversity to climate change and habitat alterations is a growing global concern. In the case of reptiles, it has been widely documented that relatively small changes in temperature can have drastic effects on biological processes with significant ecological consequences. This study used biophysical models to investigate how climate change and levels of shade influence the activity period of a vulnerable tropical tortoise (Gopherus evgoodei). The results revealed that reduced shading, serving as an indicator of decreased vegetation cover, has a significant and negative impact on the activity time of this species. Furthermore, it is projected that a 1.8°C increase in ambient temperature due to climate change would lead to an even further reduction in its activity time. This finding highlights the critical importance of shade, vegetation, and thermal limitations in the physiology of this tortoise, emphasizing the challenges that tropical reptiles face due to climate change and habitat alteration. The study also emphasizes the utility of mechanistic niche models in understanding how climate change and habitat modification can affect organisms. In conclusion, this study provides valuable eco-physiological information for the conservation of vulnerable species in tropical environments, highlighting the importance of preserving vegetation cover in tortoise habitats and carefully considering the implications of climate change in an ever-changing world amidst the biodiversity crisis. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T14:29:26Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c74a8a48fcda4510a47e7bd31bfc63f2 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2351-9894 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T14:29:26Z |
| publishDate | 2024-04-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Global Ecology and Conservation |
| spelling | doaj.art-c74a8a48fcda4510a47e7bd31bfc63f22024-03-06T05:27:27ZengElsevierGlobal Ecology and Conservation2351-98942024-04-0150e02841Climate change and reduced shading restrict the activity period of a threatened tortoise in tropical dry forestRafael A. Lara-Reséndiz0Juan C. Álvarez-Yepiz1Donald B. Miles2Julia Joos3Ana G. Pérez-Delgadillo4Fausto R. Méndez-de la Cruz5Departamento de Ciencias del Agua y Medio Ambiente, Instituto Tecnológico de Sonora, Cd. Obregón, Sonora 85000, Mexico; Corresponding author.Departamento de Ciencias del Agua y Medio Ambiente, Instituto Tecnológico de Sonora, Cd. Obregón, Sonora 85000, MexicoDepartment of Biological Sciences, Ohio University, Athens, OH, USADepartment of Biological Sciences, Ohio University, Athens, OH, USALaboratorio de Herpetología, Instituto de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México 04510, Mexico; Posgrado en Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México 04510, MexicoLaboratorio de Herpetología, Instituto de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México 04510, MexicoThe vulnerability of biodiversity to climate change and habitat alterations is a growing global concern. In the case of reptiles, it has been widely documented that relatively small changes in temperature can have drastic effects on biological processes with significant ecological consequences. This study used biophysical models to investigate how climate change and levels of shade influence the activity period of a vulnerable tropical tortoise (Gopherus evgoodei). The results revealed that reduced shading, serving as an indicator of decreased vegetation cover, has a significant and negative impact on the activity time of this species. Furthermore, it is projected that a 1.8°C increase in ambient temperature due to climate change would lead to an even further reduction in its activity time. This finding highlights the critical importance of shade, vegetation, and thermal limitations in the physiology of this tortoise, emphasizing the challenges that tropical reptiles face due to climate change and habitat alteration. The study also emphasizes the utility of mechanistic niche models in understanding how climate change and habitat modification can affect organisms. In conclusion, this study provides valuable eco-physiological information for the conservation of vulnerable species in tropical environments, highlighting the importance of preserving vegetation cover in tortoise habitats and carefully considering the implications of climate change in an ever-changing world amidst the biodiversity crisis.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2351989424000453Activity restrictionBiophysical modelingClimate warmingForagingMicroclimateShade conditions |
| spellingShingle | Rafael A. Lara-Reséndiz Juan C. Álvarez-Yepiz Donald B. Miles Julia Joos Ana G. Pérez-Delgadillo Fausto R. Méndez-de la Cruz Climate change and reduced shading restrict the activity period of a threatened tortoise in tropical dry forest Global Ecology and Conservation Activity restriction Biophysical modeling Climate warming Foraging Microclimate Shade conditions |
| title | Climate change and reduced shading restrict the activity period of a threatened tortoise in tropical dry forest |
| title_full | Climate change and reduced shading restrict the activity period of a threatened tortoise in tropical dry forest |
| title_fullStr | Climate change and reduced shading restrict the activity period of a threatened tortoise in tropical dry forest |
| title_full_unstemmed | Climate change and reduced shading restrict the activity period of a threatened tortoise in tropical dry forest |
| title_short | Climate change and reduced shading restrict the activity period of a threatened tortoise in tropical dry forest |
| title_sort | climate change and reduced shading restrict the activity period of a threatened tortoise in tropical dry forest |
| topic | Activity restriction Biophysical modeling Climate warming Foraging Microclimate Shade conditions |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2351989424000453 |
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