Meeting Abstract
Throughout the winter, reptiles utilize hibernacula (overwintering sites) to avoid harsh conditions. Previous research has shown that emergence may be common throughout the winter and due to cues such as temperature, barometric pressure, or solar irradiance. This study focuses on the emergence behavior of side-blotched lizards in nature with our goals to clarify how temperature influences i) daily emergence, ii) seasonal patterns of emergence, and iii) microhabitat preference in naturally occurring vs. artificial hibernacula. To test these ideas we utilized naturally occurring hibernacula (rock crevices) as well as an artificial overwintering site in the wild. Temperature and, to a lesser extent, barometric pressure can explain lizard emergence throughout the winter in natural hibernacula. Temperature is also the primary factor responsible for an observed seasonal pattern of emergence as winter progresses. Moreover, there are microhabitat differences in daily timing of emergence, suggesting that microhabitat use is related to temperature. Overall temperature appears to be the primary factor governing a multitude of behavioral patterns in seasonal ectotherms.
