The multidimensional (and contrasting) effects of environmental warming on a group of montane tropical lizards: Lizard and plant data

1. Mountains are cradles for biodiversity and crucibles for climate-driven species loss, particularly for tropical ectotherms. Constriction on activity and amplified heat stress are two key sources of warming-driven vulnerability in tropical montane ectotherms. These threats, however, might be counterbalanced if rising temperatures also release organisms from limits on activity induced by cold stress.

2. We used biophysical modeling to estimate activity patterns and thermal stress under warming in a group of summit-dwelling Anolis lizards (A. armouri and A. shrevei) endemic to the Caribbean island of Hispaniola. Activity is currently constrained by the prevalence of temperatures too cold for activity. Under warming, our models predict expanded hours of potential activity and reduced cold stress, especially under a high emission scenario. Crucially, release from cold stress does not come at the expense of heightened exposure to heat stress. This result arises from a steep mismatch bet...