Energy requirements of the side-blotched lizard (<i>Uta stansburiana</i>)

TitleEnergy requirements of the side-blotched lizard (Uta stansburiana)
Publication TypeThesis
Year of Publication1966
AuthorsAlexander CE
Date Published1966
UniversityNew Mexico State University
CityLas Cruces, New Mexico
Thesis TypeM.S. Thesis
Call Number00003
Keywordsbehavior, Uta, dissertation, dissertations, lizard, side-blotched, lizard, Uta, lizard,behavior, lizard,physiology, reptile, also SEE <LIZARD>, theses, thesis, Uta, activity, Uta,physiology
AbstractThe environmental temperature, oxygen consumption, diel activity, and critical thermal minimum in Uta stansburiana, was studied to estimate the yearly energy requirements for a population of this lizard. There was no significant difference between the critical thermal minimum of lizards acclimated at 15-25 degrees C and 25-35 degrees C. However, a significant difference (P<0.05) was found between groups acclimated to 15 and 35 degrees C. The mean CTMin of lizards acclimated to 15,25, and 35 degrees C was 7.5, 7.8, and 9.6 degrees C respectively. Dawson and Bartholomew (1956); Roberts (1966) found conclusive evidence that acclimation, as measured by oxygen consumption, did not occur in Uta stansburiana. However, in this study Uta were found to acclimate to temperature, at least with respect to the minimum teperature at which coordinate muscular movement is possible. Measurements of resting and active oxygen consumptionwere made on the laboratory at 15,25, and 35 degrees C. The mean oxygen consumption for animals at rest increased from 0.17 cc/gram/hour at 15 degrees C, to 0.34 cc/gram/hour at 35 degrees C, with no significant difference between the 25 and 35 degrees C acclimated groups. Active metabolism increased from 0.64 cc/gram/hour at 15 degrees C, to 1.1 cc/gram/hour/ at 35 degrees C, with no signigicant difference between ther 15 and 25 degrees C acclimated groups. The Q(10) values for resting individuals at 15 to 25 degrees C and 25 to 35 were 1.55 and 1.29 respectively, whereas Q(10) values for active animals at the same temperatures were 1.17 and 1.46 respectively. In order to calculate the yearly energy budget for a population of Uta stansburiana, it was necesssary to estimate the number of hours the lizards spend in active movement, resting above ground, and in burrows. Data for this calculation was obtained by field observation and climatological data for this area. The estimated number of Calories dissipated per year were calculated from the net productivity of Calories per acre per month. Assuming an adult density of 18.4 individuals per acre (Tinkle, McGregor, and Dana 1962) in a Larrea community, a population of Uta stansburiana would dissipate approximately 1053.4 Calories/population/acre/year or 57.2478 Calories/animal/year, assuming that its diet consists of mainly protein material from the consumption of insects. However, to calculate an accurate percentage of the total dissipation of energy derived from their habitat, information reguarding the energy requirement for insects, the animals source of food, is needed, Therefore, without this information, the percentage of primary productivity consumed by a populatoin of Uta stansburiana cannot accurately be determined.