International Journal of Molecular Evolution and Biodiversity 2024, Vol.14, No.5, 252-262 http://ecoevopublisher.com/index.php/ijmeb 260 Reptiles play essential ecological roles in ecosystems, and their resilience is critical for maintaining ecological balance. They contribute to nutrient cycles and species interactions, while their behaviors influence habitat structure and function. The adaptive capacity of reptiles is directly linked to biodiversity and the long-term stability of ecosystems. However, as climate change intensifies, the environmental pressures on reptiles will increase, affecting their survival and the overall health of ecosystems. Thus, the resilience of reptiles is not only essential for the conservation of their populations but also integral to maintaining ecological balance and addressing the challenges posed by climate change. To ensure the continued survival of reptiles under future climate scenarios, adaptive policies and conservation frameworks are necessary. Assisted migration and habitat management strategies should be implemented to relocate threatened species to suitable new environments and restore connectivity among critical habitats. Additionally, the use of environmental DNA (eDNA) monitoring should be promoted to track population dynamics in real time, providing essential data for conservation planning. Conservation policies must prioritize maintaining genetic diversity within populations and facilitating gene flow between isolated populations. Furthermore, climate models and eco-evolutionary models should be integrated into conservation decision-making to guide future efforts with scientific rigor. These comprehensive strategies will not only support the long-term survival of reptiles but also contribute to global biodiversity and the stability of ecosystems. Acknowledgments The authors are grateful to Dr. Jin for critically reading the manuscript and providing valuable feedback. Conflict of Interest Disclosure The author affirms that this research was conducted without any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest. References Bairos-Novak K., Hoogenboom M., Oppen M., and Connolly S., 2021, Coral adaptation to climate change: meta-analysis reveals high heritability across multiple traits, Global Change Biology, 27: 5694-5710. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.15829 Bestion E., San-Jose L., Gesu L., Richard M., Sinervo B., Côte J., Calvez O., Guillaume O., and Cote J., 2023, Plastic responses to warmer climates: a semi-natural experiment on lizard populations, Evolution; International Journal of Organic Evolution. https://doi.org/10.1093/evolut/qpad070 Bodensteiner B., Agudelo-Cantero G., Agudelo-Cantero G., Arietta A., Gunderson A., Muñoz M., Refsnider J., and Gangloff E., 2020, Thermal adaptation revisited: how conserved are thermal traits of reptiles and amphibians?, Journal of Experimental Zoology, Part A, Ecological and Integrative Physiology. https://doi.org/10.1002/jez.2414 Boutin S., and Lane J., 2013, Climate change and mammals: evolutionary versus plastic responses, Evolutionary Applications, 7: 29-41. https://doi.org/10.1111/eva.12121 Burggren W., and Mendez-Sanchez J., 2023, “Bet hedging” against climate change in developing and adult animals: roles for stochastic gene expression, phenotypic plasticity, epigenetic inheritance and adaptation, Frontiers in Physiology, 14. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2023.1245875 Canale C., and Henry P., 2010, Adaptive phenotypic plasticity and resilience of vertebrates to increasing climatic unpredictability, Climate Research, 43: 135-147. https://doi.org/10.3354/CR00897 Catullo R., Llewelyn J., Phillips B., and Moritz C., 2019, The potential for rapid evolution under anthropogenic climate change, Current Biology, 29: R996-R1007. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2019.08.028 Cui L., Yang C., Zhang D., Lin S., Zhao W., and Liu P., 2022, Beneficial effects of warming temperatures on embryonic and hatchling development in a low-latitude margin population of the high-latitude lizard Lacerta agilis, 10. https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2022.845309 Diele-Viegas L., and Rocha C., 2018, Unraveling the influences of climate change in Lepidosauria (Reptilia), Journal of thermal biology, 78: 401-414. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtherbio.2018.11.005 Du W., Li S., Sun B., and Shine R., 2023, Can nesting behaviour allow reptiles to adapt to climate change?, Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B, 378. https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2022.0153
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjQ4ODYzNA==