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This review is the first to summarize published studies that document nocturnal activity events in reptiles previously considered exclusively diurnal. The ecophysiological implications of this nocturnal activity in tropical and high-latitude environments are described and discussed from the perspective of optimal activity temperature ranges, tolerance thresholds, activity periods, cathemerality, voluntary hypothermia and its importance in the face of global climate change. Gaps in the research field are finally identified, and new lines of study are proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Regulation of body temperature in lizards plays a key role in the survival of species. Their physiological condition, in reference to their dependence on the ambient temperature makes them an excellent study model. Also, changes in the reproductive cycle cause changes in thermophysiological parameters. This study is the first to address the relationship of thermoregulation with reproductive activity and sex, for a species of Liolaemus from the Chaco ecoregion. The aim of this work was to determine how the reproductive, recruitment and post-reproductive periods influences, as well as the effect of sex and snout-vent length on the thermoregulation of Liolaemus chacoensis. Individuals were captured by hand in the Southern sector of Valle Fertil, San Juan province, Argentina. A total of 44 individuals were captured during the months of November 2014, February 2015 and March 2015. Body (Tb), substrate (Ts) and air (Ta) temperatures were recorded. Also, biophysical models were used to record operative temperatures. Later selected temperatures (Tsel) were evaluated at the laboratory. Finally, thermoregulatory efficiency index was calculated. Results indicated that L. chacoensis Tb was positively related to Ta, presenting a heliothermic behavior that was maintained during periods and sex. Also, Tb was higher in reproductive and recruitment periods than in post-reproductive period. In particular, only sex had an effect on Tsel, however for the interquartile range of Tsel both the period of reproductive cycle and sex had an effect. The thermoregulatory efficiency index indicated that L. chacoensis is an absolute thermoconformist. However, in the reproductive period both males and females change towards active thermoregulation. These results show that thermophysiological parameters vary in different periods of reproductive cycle and the active microsite selection would be a mechanism in maintenance of body temperature of this species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The presence of Mytilus galloprovincialis, widely known as the Mediterranean mussel, have been genetically certified from Coliumo Bay to the Magellan Strait, in central and southern Chile, respectively. To correlate the geographic distribution of this species along the Chilean coast with its physiological tolerance to upper temperatures, experiments were carried out with adults and larval stages. Trochophore, umbonate veliger, and pre-metamorphic larvae were submitted to experimental temperatures from 17-33°C, during 24 h to determine the upper temperature limit. Meanwhile, adult experiments were carried with specimens having different previous physiological background: spring-summer acclimation (November-January), and fall-winter acclimation (August-October) and exposed to temperature range of 17-33°C for period of 24, 48, 72 and 96 h, to verify mortality and byssus formation. Results showed that at larvae stages, the 50% of mortality occurred at 27°C, with 100% mortality at 30°C. Adult stages reached the 55% mortality exposed for 48 h at 30°C and 100% mortality in 72 h at the same temperature. The byssus secretion become failing at 27°C and ceased at 30°C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]