Effects of temperature heterogeneity on freshwater turtle habitat selection at their northern range limit.

Autor: Auge AC; Department of Biology, Trent University, Peterborough, ON, Canada. Electronic address: annechristineauge@trentu.ca., Blouin-Demers G; Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada., Murray DL; Department of Biology, Trent University, Peterborough, ON, Canada.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: Journal of thermal biology [J Therm Biol] 2023 Dec; Vol. 118, pp. 103725. Date of Electronic Publication: 2023 Oct 21.
DOI: 10.1016/j.jtherbio.2023.103725
Abstrakt: Environmental temperature is a crucial resource for ectotherms, affecting their physiology, behaviour and fitness. To maintain body temperatures within a suitable performance range, ectotherms select thermally-favourable locations, but this selection may be challenging in environments with high spatio-temporal heterogeneity. We assessed thermal habitat selection in two freshwater turtles (Emydoidea blandingii; Chrysemys picta) within a thermally heterogeneous environment at two spatial scales (selection of home ranges within the landscape, selection of locations within home ranges) and across seasons, by comparing temperatures at turtle locations vs. those available in the environment. Turtles selected warmer locations compared to those available in aquatic and terrestrial habitats only within home ranges, but did not show any temperature preferences when selecting home ranges at the larger scale. Turtles selected locations that were less thermally-variable than their surroundings, both at the home range scale and within home ranges. Thermal habitat selection was strongest during colder and more thermally-variable pre-nesting season compared to later periods. Despite differences in thermal mass between species, both species responded similarly to temperature variation. We conclude that freshwater turtles at their northern range margin select suitable microclimates within the suite of conditions that are naturally available.
Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare there are no conflicts of interests.
(Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)
Databáze: MEDLINE
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