Temperaturas del suelo atípicas en áreas de anidación de la iguana verde (Iguana iguana) en Colombia y Panamá
Crónica Forestal y del Medio Ambiente
1998
Journal Article
13
55-70
Iguana iguana
The green iguana (Iguana iguana) differs from other iguanas in its ability to inhabit mesic areas of the neotropics. Yet even in rain forest habitats, female green iguanas generally exhibit the behavior typical of the remaining species in the family of ovipositing during the dry season in soils which receive direct sunlight. Laboratory studies have suggested that green iguana eggs require incubation temperatures near 30 C to successfully incubate. We present evidence obtained from two green iguana populations which demonstrates that the incubation requirements of this species are not as restrictive as previously believed. One population inhabits a region in the Colombian Amazon which essentially lacks a dry season. Measureable rains fall on average once every two days throughout the incubation period, significantly lowering nest temperatures. The second population inhabits rain forest in Panama which experiences a pronounced dry season. However, there is a scarcity of open areas for nesting in this area, so some females nest within the forest, but only at sites where small gas in the canopy expose soils to short periods of direct sunlight each day. Incubation temperatures, incubation periods, and hatching success at these sites are compared to more typical green iguana nesting areas.