Data from: Some like it hot: from individual to population responses of an arboreal arid-zone gecko to local and distant climate

Accumulating evidence has demonstrated considerable impact of climate change on biodiversity, with terrestrial ectotherms being particularly vulnerable. While climate-induced range shifts are often addressed in the literature, little is known about the underlying ecological responses at individual and population levels. Using a 30-year monitoring study of the long-living nocturnal gecko Gehyra variegata in arid Australia, we determined the relative contribution of climatic factors acting locally (temperature, rainfall) or distantly (La Nin᷉a induced flooding) on ecological processes ranging from traits at the individual level (body condition, body growth) to the demography at population level (survival, sexual maturity, population sizes). We also investigated whether thermoregulatory activity during both active (night) and resting (daytime) periods of the day can explain these responses. Gehyra variegata responded to local and distant climatic effects. Both high temperatures and high water availability enhanced individual and demographic parameters. Moreover, the impact of water availability was scale-independent as local rainfall and La Nin᷉a induced flooding compensated each other. When water availability was low, however, extremely high temperatures delayed body growth and sexual maturity while survival of individuals and population sizes remained stable. This suggests a trade-off with traits at the individual level that may potentially buffer the consequences of adverse climatic conditions at the population level. Moreover, hot temperatures did not impact nocturnal nor diurnal behavior. Instead, only cool temperatures induced diurnal thermoregulatory behavior with individuals moving to exposed hollow branches and even outside tree hollows for sun-basking during the day. Since diurnal behavioral thermoregulation likely induced costs on fitness, this could decrease performance at both individual and population level under cool temperatures. Our findings show that water availability rather than high temperature is the limiting factor in our focal population of G. variegata. In contrast to previous studies, we stress that drier rather than warmer conditions are expected to be detrimental for nocturnal desert reptiles. Identifying the actual limiting climatic factors at different scales and their functional interactions at different ecological levels is critical to be able to predict reliably future population dynamics and support conservation planning in arid ecosystems.越来越多的证据表明，气候变化对生物多样性具有显著影响，陆生外温动物（terrestrial ectotherms）尤其脆弱。尽管学界常围绕气候诱导的分布范围变动展开研究，但目前对个体与种群层面的潜在生态响应仍知之甚少。本研究依托澳大利亚干旱区针对长寿夜行性壁虎杂色澳虎（Gehyra variegata）开展的30年长期监测数据，解析了局地（温度、降雨）与远端（拉尼娜（La Niña）诱导的洪水事件）气候因子对一系列生态过程的相对贡献，这些生态过程涵盖个体层面的性状（身体状况、体生长）至种群层面的种群统计特征（存活率、性成熟时间、种群规模）。我们还探究了日间（静止期）与夜间（活动期）的体温调节行为能否解释上述生态响应。杂色澳虎对局地与远端气候因子均产生响应。高温与充足的水资源可利用性均可提升个体与种群相关参数。此外，水资源可利用性的影响不依赖空间尺度：局地降雨与拉尼娜诱导的洪水可相互补偿。但当水资源可利用性较低时，极端高温会延缓体生长与性成熟进程，而个体存活率与种群规模则保持稳定。这表明个体层面的性状存在权衡机制，或可在种群层面缓冲不利气候条件带来的影响。此外，高温并未对夜间或日间行为产生影响。与之相反，仅低温会诱导个体开展日间体温调节行为：壁虎会迁移至暴露的中空树枝，甚至离开树洞进行日间日光浴。由于日间行为体温调节可能会对适合度产生代价，这或会在低温条件下降低个体与种群层面的适合度表现。本研究结果表明，相较于高温，水资源可利用性才是该杂色澳虎种群的限制性因子。与以往研究不同的是，我们强调相较于气候变暖，干旱环境更可能对夜行性沙漠爬行动物产生不利影响。明确不同尺度下真正的限制性气候因子及其在不同生态层级的功能互作，对于可靠预测未来种群动态、支撑干旱生态系统的保护规划至关重要。