Energy Requirements of Uta stansburiana

Alexander, C.; Whitford, W.

Field data on the type and duration of above ground activity were obtained for a population of Uta stansburiana. These lizards were estimated to spend 2188 hr per year above ground, approximately ⅓ of this time in active movement, and 6652 hr per year in burrows. Air, substratum, and burrow temperatures were recorded weekly throughout the year. Resting and active oxygen consumption were measured in the laboratory by a modified manometric technique. Resting oxygen consumption increased from a mean of 0.17 cc g/hr at 15° to 0.34 cc g/hr at 35° C. Active oxygen consumption increased from 0.64 cc g/hr at 15° to 1.1 cc g/hr at 35°C. Oxygen consumption was used with field estimates of activity and environmental temperatures to calculate the energy budget for an adult U. stansburiana, 58 KCal/yr. Approximately 0.1% of the net primary productivity of a creosote bush (Larrea) community was estimated to be dissipated by the U. stansburiana. Thus these lizards play a minor role in the energy transfers in a Larrea community.

Energy Requirements of Uta stansburiana

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