27th Annual Student Research Conference
Winter Thermoregulation and Habitat Selection in Norops sagrei on Tropical Hardwood Tree Islands In Everglades National Park
Zebadiah G. Yoko*, Akanksha Ashwini, and Courtney L. Rice
Dr. Chad Montgomery and Dr. Jason Luscier, Faculty Mentors
Environmental temperature can restrict ectotherm activity, ultimately affecting fitness. Thermoregulators do not produce their own heat yet try to maintain a stable body temperature by behaviorally thermoregulating within suitable microhabitats. Thermal environments that coincide with the organisms preferred temperature range impose fewer restrictions. With fewer restrictions, thermoregulating lizards would theoretically have greater fitness in thermally suitable microhabitats. To test this hypothesis, we surveyed thermal microhabitats, in the form of tree islands, in Everglades National Park utilized by Norops sagrei, a highly successful behaviorally thermoregulating invasive species of southern Florida. We sampled environmental temperatures of tree islands and captured lizards at each island to gather body temperature and size data. Thermal profiles differed among all of the islands sampled and between substrate types. Lizard body temperatures also differed among islands.
Keywords: Thermoregulation, Microhabitat, Ecology, Invasive Species, Climate, Everglades National Park, Thermal Profile, Operative Temperature Models
Topic(s):Biology
Presentation Type: Poster
Session: 4-7
Location: GEO - SUB
Time: 3:30