Too Cool for Camouflage?: The Effects of Dive-Related Thermal Loss on Body Coloration in a Semi Aquatic Lizard

Authors: Lyra Lu, Alexandra Martin

Field of Study: Science, Technology, Engineering, and/or Math

Program Affiliation: Swierk Lab

Faculty Mentors: Lindsey Swierk

Easel: 87

Timeslot: Midday

Abstract: Rapid body color change is well documented in animals, but the variety of environmental factors that induce this change are not fully understood. Anolis aquaticus is a tropical lizard with rapid body color changes and that uses colder-than-average refugia, namely diving underwater for extended periods, to flee from predators. Using underwater refugia causes these lizards to lose several degrees of body heat. This research tested the relationship of low body temperatures on body coloration. First, an observational study was conducted in the field of the correlation between body temperature and body color. Then, body temperature was experimentally reduced in the laboratory to observe the effect on body color. Body color was quantified from standardized photographs, and visual modeling was used to determine lizard body coloration changes as seen by their primary predators (birds). Preliminary results show significant differences between cooled and controlled temperature lizards across certain color metrics.