Wind of change: a diurnal skink thermoregulates between cooler set-points and for an increased amount of time in the presence of wind.

ABSTRACT: Wind has the potential to dramatically alter the thermal landscape of habitats, and consequently, to affect how ectotherms thermoregulate. However, few studies have directly assessed if wind alters thermoregulation by ectotherms. We compared the thermoregulation of a heliothermic New Zealand skink under three treatments: no wind, wind at 2 m s-1 and wind at 6 m s-1. We provided captive skinks with housing in which their preferred body temperature was only achievable inside a wind tunnel. During experimental treatments with wind, airflow was generated through the wind tunnel while the maximum available operative temperature remained consistent among treatments. Skinks were able to move in and out of the wind tunnel. Using thermal bio-loggers, we recorded near-continuous skin temperatures of

SUBMITTER: Virens E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9001919 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature