Data from: Drivers of thermal habitat use in turtles studied under semi-natural conditions

Understanding which factors predict species’ sensitivity to climate change
requires comparative studies under standardized conditions. Reptiles are
particularly vulnerable to climate shifts due to their reliance on
external temperatures to regulate body temperature. As such, the available
environmental temperatures may influence their behavior towards seeking
more optimal conditions. In this study, we measured thermal habitat use in
73 individuals from nine turtle species housed under semi-natural
conditions at a single location. Ambient temperatures within each
enclosure were also recorded every 20 minutes for three months to
determine the range of thermal options available, yielding over 650,000
data points. We then compared temperatures experienced in the thermal
habitat to environmental conditions across the native range of each
species. Experienced habitat temperatures generally aligned with native
conditions. However, several species—including Terrapene carolina,
Chelonoidis denticulata, and Indotestudo elongata— experienced habitat
temperatures near the lower limit of what is currently available and
showed little individual variation, suggesting limited capacity for
behavioral adjustment under future warming. Experienced habitat
temperature differed among species and was influenced by body mass, but
not sex. By providing the first large-scale, cross-species dataset on
turtle experienced habitat temperatures under standardized conditions,
this study offers a framework for assessing thermal vulnerability and
adaptive capacity in response to climate change. The findings also inform
conservation efforts, including the design of captive environments that
reflect species-specific thermal needs.