Thermoregulatory behavior and high thermal preference buffer impact of climate change in a Namib Desert lizard

A Namibian lizard, Pedioplanis husabensis, exhibits remarkable thermoregulatory behavior that buffers the impact of climate change. Despite inhabiting one of the world's most thermally harsh environments, this diurnal and xeric-adapted species maintains a high thermal preference while also regulating its body temperature below critical limits during extreme heat. The study integrated micro-scale thermoregulation data with macroclimate models across its range, revealing that populations persist even in the hottest regions without evidence of range shifts since the 1960s. However, the species' narrow safety margin between thermal preference and critical maximum suggests potential range reductions under moderate climate change scenarios.

Kirchhof, S., Hetem, R. S., Lease, H. M., Miles, D. B., Mitchell, D., Müller, J., Rödel, M.-O., Sinervo, B., Wassenaar, T., & Murray, I. W. (2017). Thermoregulatory behavior and high thermal preference buffer impact of climate change in a Namib Desert lizard. Ecosphere, 8(12). Portico. https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.2033