Identificación de las tolerancias térmicas de Stenocercus cadlei, en la Reserva de Producción de Fauna de Chimborazo (RPFCH)

Abstract

The current project determined the thermal tolerances and population estimation of Stenocercus cadlei, a thermoregulatory lizard whose habitat is the Fauna Production Reservation of Chimborazo (RPFCH) at an approximate altitudinal range of 3200 - 4965 over sea level. 30 total captures were carried out in two places called Chorrera Mirador (Chimborazo province) and Colorado River (Tungurahua province); it is to say, 11 and 19 adult species respectively. Preferential temperatures (Tpref) were determined by means of a temperature gradient and maximum critical temperatures (TCmax) as well as minimum critical temperatures (TCmin) through the critical thermal method. Tpref was 30.00 °C for experimental units from Chorrera Mirador and 30.24 °C for those from Colorado River, TCmin was 5.82 °C for experimental units from Chorrera Mirador and 5.80 °C for those from Colorado river, it means that the units from both places have a similar tolerance to cold. Regarding TCmax, temperatures of 42. 34 °C and 40.00 °C were registered respectively. This evidences that species from Chorrera Mirador present a higher tolerance to temperature increase; thus, they are adapted to resist temperature changes caused by climate change. For the population analysis, it was necessary to use MARK software by means of the MO method, which is based onthe number of recaptures made during the sampling period, where each animal has the same probability of being recaptured, obtaining a population from 17 to 39 species in Chorrera Mirador; however, the population in Colorado River was not estimated since during the S. cadlei sampling process, none of the units analyzed were recaptured. It is recommended to socialized the results with the RPFCH surrounding communities in order to promote both, care and ethical management of Stenocercus cadlei to prevent its extinction and avoid the advance of the agricultural frontier.