Presentation Type
Poster
Presentation Type
Submission
Keywords
Ecology, Water loss, Urban Heat Island Effect, Western Fence Lizard, Temperature, Irrigation, Reptile, Ectotherm, Urban Oasis Effect
Department
Biology
Major
Biology BS, Chemistry BS
Abstract
Urban wildlife may experience stress due to the Urban Heat Island Effect. On the other hand, urban wildlife may experience relief, especially in arid ecosystems, due to the Urban Oasis Effect. The objective of this study was to test whether college campuses in southern California act as heat islands or oases for wildlife. We analyzed how temperature and water availability of microhabitats relate to the physiology of a widespread and common cold-blooded animal, the Western Fence Lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis). We logged environmental conditions in lizard hotspots at 11 university campuses across southern California and measured the hydration of lizards at paired urban and non-urban sites during the rainy season (spring 2025) and dry season (fall 2025). We discovered that urban sites on college campuses had higher humidity and soil moisture and lower average temperatures compared to natural sites, likely due to greater water availability from irrigation. Lizards had higher blood plasma water content at urban sites in both wet and dry seasons, indicating higher hydration than non-urban lizards. Blood plasma water content was lower in the dry season compared to the wet season at both urban and non-urban sites. Evaporative water loss of lizards was similar between urban and non-urban sites in the spring, but declined in non-urban lizards in the fall, likely as a mechanism to prevent dehydration during the dry season. Our results suggest that water from irrigation helps mitigate the detrimental effects of urbanization and that college campuses can serve as oases for wildlife.
Faculty Mentor
Dr. Monzon
Funding Source or Research Program
Not Identified
Location
Waves Cafeteria
Start Date
10-4-2026 1:00 PM
End Date
10-4-2026 2:00 PM
Hot Cities, Cool Lizards: Do College Campuses Create Urban Oases for Wildlife?
Waves Cafeteria
Urban wildlife may experience stress due to the Urban Heat Island Effect. On the other hand, urban wildlife may experience relief, especially in arid ecosystems, due to the Urban Oasis Effect. The objective of this study was to test whether college campuses in southern California act as heat islands or oases for wildlife. We analyzed how temperature and water availability of microhabitats relate to the physiology of a widespread and common cold-blooded animal, the Western Fence Lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis). We logged environmental conditions in lizard hotspots at 11 university campuses across southern California and measured the hydration of lizards at paired urban and non-urban sites during the rainy season (spring 2025) and dry season (fall 2025). We discovered that urban sites on college campuses had higher humidity and soil moisture and lower average temperatures compared to natural sites, likely due to greater water availability from irrigation. Lizards had higher blood plasma water content at urban sites in both wet and dry seasons, indicating higher hydration than non-urban lizards. Blood plasma water content was lower in the dry season compared to the wet season at both urban and non-urban sites. Evaporative water loss of lizards was similar between urban and non-urban sites in the spring, but declined in non-urban lizards in the fall, likely as a mechanism to prevent dehydration during the dry season. Our results suggest that water from irrigation helps mitigate the detrimental effects of urbanization and that college campuses can serve as oases for wildlife.