Lizard Thermal Tolerance Database: A Comprehensive Compilation of Critical Thermal Maximum (CTmax) Data and Associated Factors

Abstract  

This database compiles critical thermal maximum (CTmax) data for 47 lizard species, This database compiles critical thermal maximum (CTmax) data for 47 lizard species, along with additional data on intraspecific variation where available. The database provides valuable insights into lizard's thermoregulatory capabilities.  In addition to CTmax measurements, it compiles data on critical thermal minimum (CTmin), body temperature, and other factors potentially influencing CTmax, such as body size characteristics (body mass and snout to vent lenght) and altitude at which the specie was sampled. The aim is to deepen the understanding of lizards' thermal tolerance, essential for their survival under climate change.  

Literature research protocol 

To compile the data, a comprehensive literature survey was conducted across Google Scholar, Web of Science and Scopus. The search employed key words like "lizard critical temperature" "lizard thermal tolerance" "lizard critical thermal limits" and "lizard thermal physiology". Titles, abstracts, and full-text articles were carefully screened, and studies were chosen based on their focus on thermal tolerance traits. Preference was given to studies providing location information for sample collection whenever available, enabling the visualization of the species' spatial distribution. 

Metadata, including units of measurement and supplementary data, were extracted from the reviewed literature. Although not all sources included metadata, it was decided not to exclude data for the selected parameters from the species that reported it, ensuring that no valuable information was overlooked.  All data presented maintain consistency in scale, as indicated by the reported units. To provide temporal context the year of publication was provided, as the year of the sampling/experiment was not always available or clear.  

Metadata 

Species Name: Scientific name of the lizard species as described in the study.

Accepted Name: Accepted taxonomic name of the species as for IUCN database.  

Latitude (DD): Geographic latitude in decimal degrees.  

Longitude (DD): Geographic longitude in decimal degrees.

Location Accuracy: Level of accuracy in geographic coordinates:  

Exact: Coordinates provided in the publication. 

Estimate: Location provided in the publication, but no precise coordinates.

Unknown: Broad geographical location provided in the publication, at the continental level.

Year: Year of study publication.  

CTmax: Average critical thermal maximum (°C).

CTmin: Average critical thermal minimum (°C).

Tb (°C): Average body temperature of the lizard (°C).

Body Mass (g): Average mass of the lizard's body (grams).

SVL (mm): Average snout-vent length of the lizard (millimeters).

Altitude (m): Altitude of the location where the lizards were collected (meters). 

Reference list 

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Brusch, G.A., Taylor, E.N. and Whitfield, S.M. (2015). Turn up the heat: Thermal Tolerances of Lizards at La Selva, Costa Rica. Oecologia, 180(2), pp.325–334. doi:https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-015-3467-3. 

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