Desert lizards face 'cost-of-living squeeze' amid climate warming

As the planet heats up, desert lizards around the world are facing a new challenge: a "cost-of-living squeeze." A recent study, authored by Anthony Gilbert and a global team of researchers, shows how rising temperatures are forcing these animals to use more energy while reducing the time they can spend foraging for food.

Unlike humans, lizards depend on their environment to regulate their body temperature. When it gets too hot, they retreat to shade or burrows to cool down. While this helps them avoid overheating, it limits their ability to hunt or reproduce. Meanwhile, their metabolic demands increase as temperatures climb, leaving them struggling to meet their energy needs.

“Their cost of living is measured in calories rather than dollars, and it goes up as temperatures rise,” Gilbert explained. “At the same time, their ability to find food decreases. It’s a perfect storm for these animals.”

The study highlights how these challenges threaten not only individual lizards but entire populations. “When lizards can’t forage or reproduce because they’re avoiding extreme heat, their populations can become unstable,” Gilbert said. “It’s not just about survival — it’s about the long-term future of these species.”

Researchers compared desert lizards in Africa’s Kalahari Desert and Australia’s Great Victoria Desert, analyzing decades of data. They found African lizards are under greater strain, as warming since 1950 has been more severe there. These lizards face rising energy demands and shrinking windows of time to find food.

In contrast, nocturnal lizards in Australia have seen some benefits from warmer nights, which extend their hunting hours. But even these species are not entirely safe. “Every species responds differently to climate change,” Gilbert said. “Australian lizards may have more time to forage, but that doesn’t mean they’re immune to the other effects of a warming world.”

The findings extend beyond lizards, shedding light on how climate change impacts animals that rely on external temperatures to survive. “What we’re seeing with lizards applies to many other species — snakes, fish, even insects,” Gilbert noted. “The ripple effects are profound.”

Adding to the pressure is habitat destruction caused by farming and livestock grazing. “We saw burrows critical for lizard thermoregulation destroyed by livestock,” Gilbert said. “Without these shelters, lizards lose their last defense against extreme heat. It’s a double blow: rising temperatures and habitat loss.”

The study also offers hope. Using advanced models that account for species behavior, habitat use and temperature fluctuations, researchers can predict how lizards and other animals will fare under future climate conditions.

“These models give us powerful tools to anticipate and mitigate the impacts of climate change,” Gilbert said. “By understanding how species respond, we can guide conservation efforts and take action to protect these remarkable creatures.”

While the challenges are significant, Gilbert remains optimistic.

“The more we know, the better equipped we are to help," he said. "If we act now, we can preserve these species and the ecosystems they depend on.”

The study serves as a call to action, emphasizing the need for collaboration, innovation and conservation to protect vulnerable species in an increasingly warming world.