Understanding the factors that may affect behavioural thermoregulation of endangered reptiles is important for their conservation because thermoregulation determines body temperatures and in turn physiological functions of these ectotherms. Here we measured seasonal variation in operative environmental temperature (Te), body temperature (Tb), and microhabitat use of endangered crocodile lizards (Shinisaurus crocodilurus) from a captive population, within open and shaded enclosures, to understand how they respond to thermally challenging environments. Te was higher in open enclosures than in shaded enclosures. The Tb of lizards differed between the open and shaded enclosures in summer and autumn, but not in spring. In summer, crocodile lizards stayed in the water to avoid overheating, whereas in autumn, crocodile lizards perched on branches seeking optimal thermal environments. Crocodile lizards showed higher thermoregulatory effectiveness in open enclosures (with low thermal quality) than in shaded enclosures. Our study suggests that the crocodile lizard is capable of behavioural thermoregulation via microhabitat selection, although overall, it is not an effective thermoregulator. Therefore, maintaining diverse thermal environments in natural habitats for behavioural thermoregulation is an essential measure to conserve this endangered species both in the field and captivity.

中文翻译：

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濒临灭绝的鳄鱼蜥蜴（Shinisaurus crocodilurus）在圈养中的行为体温调节

了解可能影响濒危爬行动物行为体温调节的因素对其保护很重要，因为体温调节决定体温，进而决定这些变温动物的生理功能。在这里，我们测量了操作环境温度 (Te)、体温 (Tb) 和微栖息地使用来自圈养种群的濒危鳄鱼蜥蜴 (Shinisaurus crocodilurus) 在开放和阴影围栏内的季节性变化，以了解它们如何应对热挑战环境. 开放式外壳中的 Te 高于阴影式外壳中的 Te。夏季和秋季开放和遮荫围栏的蜥蜴 Tb 不同，但在春季没有变化。夏天，鳄鱼蜥蜴呆在水里避免过热，而在秋天，鳄鱼蜥蜴栖息在树枝上，寻求最佳的热环境。鳄鱼蜥蜴在开放式围栏（低热质量）中比在阴凉围栏中表现出更高的体温调节效果。我们的研究表明，鳄鱼蜥蜴能够通过微栖息地选择进行行为体温调节，尽管总体而言，它不是一种有效的体温调节器。因此，在自然栖息地维持多样化的热环境以进行行为体温调节是在野外和圈养中保护这种濒危物种的必要措施。我们的研究表明，鳄鱼蜥蜴能够通过微栖息地选择进行行为体温调节，尽管总体而言，它不是一种有效的体温调节器。因此，在自然栖息地维持多样化的热环境以进行行为体温调节是在野外和圈养中保护这种濒危物种的必要措施。我们的研究表明，鳄鱼蜥蜴能够通过微栖息地选择进行行为体温调节，尽管总体而言，它不是一种有效的体温调节器。因此，在自然栖息地维持多样化的热环境以进行行为体温调节是在野外和圈养中保护这种濒危物种的必要措施。