Dataset of thermophysiological traits and locomotor performance in Sceloporus bicanthalis under pre and post-acclimatisation conditions

The increase in global temperatures threatens the persistence of viviparous lizard populations inhabiting high-altitude habitats, known as 'sky islands'. These isolated populations experience greater temperature fluctuations, which has fostered the development of broad thermal tolerances compared to lower-altitude populations (Janzen's hypothesis). We asked whether a higher thermal tolerance confers a fitness advantage to the species in coping with the increase in temperatures predicted under future climate scenarios. To investigate this, we conducted an acclimation experiment at a low elevation and measured various ecophysiological variables, as well as locomotor performance.