Ecophysiology of reptiles in a changing world: integrating functional responses to climate and land use change

Abstract

Climate change and land-use change constitute two of the main threats to biodiversity. As ectotherms, reptiles are among the most sensitive groups to alterations in the thermal and hydric conditions of their environment. Therefore, ecophysiology has positioned itself as a crucial discipline for understanding the potential functional responses of these organisms to environmental disturbances. Although research on reptile ecophysiology has historically focused on thermal aspects, the importance of hydroregulation for this vertebrate group is increasingly recognized. Through a critical (narrative) synthesis of recent literature, we evaluate how anthropogenic alterations in the physical environment impact reptile physiology, with consequences ranging from behaviour, reproduction, and distribution to biotic interactions and extinction risk. We focus on climate change and land-use change as they are the primary drivers of alterations in habitat biophysical conditions and their impact on thermal and hydric physiology of reptiles. We discuss the utility of adopting approaches based on biophysical models and functional traits to offer a deeper perspective on the mechanisms underlying organismal responses. Finally, we propose research lines that have not yet been sufficiently explored but hold the potential to contribute substantially to the conservation of this group of organisms.