Selected body temperature, thermal tolerance and thermal dependence of food assimilation and locomotor performance in adult blue-tailed skinks, Eumeces elegans
Wg. Du et al., Selected body temperature, thermal tolerance and thermal dependence of food assimilation and locomotor performance in adult blue-tailed skinks, Eumeces elegans, J THERM BIO, 25(3), 2000, pp. 197-202
1. Selected body temperature, thermal tolerance and influences of temperatu
re on food assimilation and locomotor performance were studied in adult blu
e-tailed skinks, Eumeces elegans, from a population in Zhejiang, eastern Ch
ina. 2. The selected body temperature (30.4 degrees C) of males was on aver
age 3.6 degrees C higher than that of females (26.8 degrees C). No between-
sex differences in thermal tolerance were found, and the critical thermal m
inimum and the critical thermal maximum averaged 9.3 and 41.9 degrees C, re
spectively. 3. The passage time decreased with increase in temperature with
in the range of 22 to 34 degrees C and increased at higher temperatures. 4.
The food intake generally increased with increase in temperature within th
e range of 22 to 30 degrees C and decreased at higher temperatures. 5. The
apparent digestive coefficient and the assimilation efficiency were both in
sensitive to temperature. 6. Eumeces elegans gained mass between 22 and 34
degrees C, lost mass at 36 degrees C and gained relatively more mass at tem
peratures around 26 degrees C. 7. The sprint speed increased with increase
in temperature within the range of 18 to 34 degrees C, and decreased at hig
her temperatures. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.