Impact of vineyards on habitat's thermal conditions and functional traits of a lizard in the central Monte Desert, Argentina

Abstract

Vegetation modulates the spatial arrangement of microclimates and changes in land cover due to agricultural activities alter thermal landscapes. Lizard body temperature is strongly influenced by the thermal quality of the environment at the microhabitat level and land management for agriculture in arid environments can reduce the thermal quality of a species' habitat. Our objective was to evaluate if there are variations in the thermal biology and thermal quality of the habitat in Liolaemus darwinii, at a site modified by vineyards and in a natural habitat in the central Monte Desert, Argentina. Our findings indicate that vineyard-induced habitat modifications have an impact on operative temperatures and the thermal quality of the environment. This variability, in turn, is likely to bring about changes in locomotor performance traits and thermoregulatory strategies of Liolaemus darwinii. Our conclusion highlights the efficient thermoregulatory capabilities of L. darwinii across both sites. Furthermore, we propose that the analysis of changes in thermal landscapes, habitat thermal quality, and their correlation with organisms’ thermal traits can serve as a practical tool for assessing the impact of agricultural activities in arid environments. Additionally, it aids in the development of conservation strategies that promote the preservation of neighboring native vegetation.