Do anthropogenic disturbances affect the stress physiology and immunity of Liolaemus cuyumhue? The case of an endangered lizard from the Monte Desert of Patagonia
- 1Grupo de Herpetología Patagónica, Instituto Patagónico para el Estudio de Ecosistemas Continentales (IPEEC-CONICET), Abuelas de Plaza de Mayo 2915, 9120 Puerto Madryn, Chubut, Argentina
- 2Laboratorio de Ecofisiología e Historia de vida de Reptiles, Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medio Ambiente (INIBIOMA -CONICET), Universidad Nacional del Comahue, Quintral 1250, San Carlos de Bariloche, 8400 Río Negro, Argentina
- 3Instituto de Investigación en Paleobiología y Geología (IIPG, CONICET-UNRN), Av. Roca 1242, Gral. Roca, 8332 Río Negro, Argentina
Abstract
In arid environments, hydrocarbon exploitation causes habitat alterations, affecting the availability of microhabitats for thermoregulation, predator evasion, and foraging opportunities. This is the first study to evaluate the effects of this anthropogenic disturbance on stress and immunological parameters in a liolaemid lizard, Liolaemus cuyumhue, an endemic and critically endangered species (Monte Desert, Patagonia, Argentina). During the spring–summer seasons, we compared the leukocyte profiles, heterophil-to-lymphocyte (H/L) ratio, capture body temperatures (Tb), serum corticosterone concentrations (CORTs), and body condition index (BCI) of adults from a site disturbed by hydrocarbon exploitation and an undisturbed site. We found that lymphocyte percentages were higher in lizards from the disturbed site, whereas heterophils, basophils, and monocytes were more abundant at the undisturbed site. The H/L differed significantly between sites and seasons, being higher at the undisturbed site and during spring. A significant negative association between the H/L ratio and Tb was observed only at the disturbed site. CORT measured in adult males varied seasonally, being higher in summer, but showed no differences between sites. Our results suggest that individuals that survived and persisted in the disturbed site have been able to cope with environmental conditions, which at present do not appear to induce chronic physiological stress.
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BibTeX
@article{brizio2026anthropogenic,
title = {{Do anthropogenic disturbances affect the stress physiology and immunity of Liolaemus cuyumhue? The case of an endangered lizard from the Monte Desert of Patagonia}},
author = {María V. Brizio and Fernando Duran and Facundo Cabezas-Cartes and Luciano J. Avila and Jorgelina M. Boretto},
journal = {Biology Open},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1242/bio.062777},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1242/bio.062777},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Do anthropogenic disturbances affect the stress physiology and immunity of Liolaemus cuyumhue? The case of an endangered lizard from the Monte Desert of Patagonia
AU - María V. Brizio
AU - Fernando Duran
AU - Facundo Cabezas-Cartes
AU - Luciano J. Avila
AU - Jorgelina M. Boretto
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/06
JO - Biology Open
DO - 10.1242/bio.062777
UR - https://doi.org/10.1242/bio.062777
AB - In arid environments, hydrocarbon exploitation causes habitat alterations, affecting the availability of microhabitats for thermoregulation, predator evasion, and foraging opportunities. This is the first study to evaluate the effects of this anthropogenic disturbance on stress and immunological parameters in a liolaemid lizard, Liolaemus cuyumhue, an endemic and critically endangered species (Monte Desert, Patagonia, Argentina). During the spring–summer seasons, we compared the leukocyte profiles, heterophil-to-lymphocyte (H/L) ratio, capture body temperatures (Tb), serum corticosterone concentrations (CORTs), and body condition index (BCI) of adults from a site disturbed by hydrocarbon exploitation and an undisturbed site. We found that lymphocyte percentages were higher in lizards from the disturbed site, whereas heterophils, basophils, and monocytes were more abundant at the undisturbed site. The H/L differed significantly between sites and seasons, being higher at the undisturbed site and during spring. A significant negative association between the H/L ratio and Tb was observed only at the disturbed site. CORT measured in adult males varied seasonally, being higher in summer, but showed no differences between sites. Our results suggest that individuals that survived and persisted in the disturbed site have been able to cope with environmental conditions, which at present do not appear to induce chronic physiological stress.
SN - 2046-6390
ER -