10.5061/DRYAD.J0J2B70
Grimm-Seyfarth, Annegret
University of Potsdam
Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research
Mihoub, Jean-Baptiste
Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research
Sorbonne University
Gruber, Bernd
Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research
University of Canberra
Henle, Klaus
Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research
Data from: Some like it hot: from individual to population responses of an
arboreal arid-zone gecko to local and distant climate
Dryad
dataset
2018
1985-2016
body temperature diurnal
individual traits
Gehyra variegata
capture-mark-recapture
body temperature nocturnal
Holocene
2018-03-01T14:25:05Z
2018-03-01T14:25:05Z
en
https://doi.org/10.1002/ecm.1301
297846 bytes
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CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication
Accumulating evidence has demonstrated considerable impact of climate
change on biodiversity, with terrestrial ectotherms being particularly
vulnerable. While climate-induced range shifts are often addressed in the
literature, little is known about the underlying ecological responses at
individual and population levels. Using a 30-year monitoring study of the
long-living nocturnal gecko Gehyra variegata in arid Australia, we
determined the relative contribution of climatic factors acting locally
(temperature, rainfall) or distantly (La Nin᷉a induced flooding) on
ecological processes ranging from traits at the individual level (body
condition, body growth) to the demography at population level (survival,
sexual maturity, population sizes). We also investigated whether
thermoregulatory activity during both active (night) and resting (daytime)
periods of the day can explain these responses. Gehyra variegata responded
to local and distant climatic effects. Both high temperatures and high
water availability enhanced individual and demographic parameters.
Moreover, the impact of water availability was scale-independent as local
rainfall and La Nin᷉a induced flooding compensated each other. When water
availability was low, however, extremely high temperatures delayed body
growth and sexual maturity while survival of individuals and population
sizes remained stable. This suggests a trade-off with traits at the
individual level that may potentially buffer the consequences of adverse
climatic conditions at the population level. Moreover, hot temperatures
did not impact nocturnal nor diurnal behavior. Instead, only cool
temperatures induced diurnal thermoregulatory behavior with individuals
moving to exposed hollow branches and even outside tree hollows for
sun-basking during the day. Since diurnal behavioral thermoregulation
likely induced costs on fitness, this could decrease performance at both
individual and population level under cool temperatures. Our findings show
that water availability rather than high temperature is the limiting
factor in our focal population of G. variegata. In contrast to previous
studies, we stress that drier rather than warmer conditions are expected
to be detrimental for nocturnal desert reptiles. Identifying the actual
limiting climatic factors at different scales and their functional
interactions at different ecological levels is critical to be able to
predict reliably future population dynamics and support conservation
planning in arid ecosystems.
Gehyra_dataThis file includes measurements of a capture-mark-recapture
field study of Gehyra variegata over the course of 30 years (1986-2016).
In comprises three tables: body temperatures during the day measured with
RFID tags; body temperatures during the night measured with an IR
thermometer; and individual capture-recapture data including exact time
and location, lengths and mass measures, sexing and aging. For more
detail, please refer to Grimm-Seyfarth et al., 2018, Ecological
Monographs.
New South Wales
Kinchega National Park
Australia