Resting metabolic rate of Sceloporus grammicus at intermediate and native elevations

Body maintenance energy requirements are measured as minimal metabolic rate (RMR) of inactive, postabsorptive individuals in the laboratory. For mountain-dwelling species, translocation to the laboratory can mean a change in elevation and thus oxygen pressure, which may affect metabolic rates. Here we present resting metabolic rate (RMR) of three populations of the Mesquite lizard (Sceloporus grammicus) at their native elevations (i.e., 2600, 3200 and 4100 m) and at an intermediate elevation (3100 m). Each lizard was tested at 15, 25, 30 and 35ºC. For each test RMR is given in VCO2 ml/min. Data also includes sex, snout vent length (SVL), body mass, and throat color morph.