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Dataset from 2015-2016 thermal and behavior monitoring of Argentine giant tegus in Everglades, Florida

October 30, 2020

Thermal data collected from iButton temperature loggers implanted into research animals (Argentine giant tegus) and in their surrounding environment. Tegus undergo winter dormancy (hibernation) to cope with colder temperatures, and we studied the thermal habits of wild tegus within their invaded range in southern Florida, USA. We used radiotelemetry and trail cameras to verify dates of above-ground behaviors (active, basking, non-hibernating) and used temperature dataloggers to monitor surface (2 sun-exposed [Te] and 1 shaded [Ts]), 3 ambient (Ta), 19 subsurface ground (Th), and 22 internal body (Tb) temperatures of a population of free-ranging tegus over several seasons (46 weeks from 2015-2016). We recorded tegu morphometrics at capture. These data are limited and inferences beyond the scope of this project are not recommended.

Publication Year 2020
Title Dataset from 2015-2016 thermal and behavior monitoring of Argentine giant tegus in Everglades, Florida
DOI 10.5066/P9QCSKRR
Authors Michelle A.M. Collier, Amy A Yackel, Andrea F Currylow
Product Type Data Release
Record Source USGS Digital Object Identifier Catalog
USGS Organization Fort Collins Science Center