Leeway Corucia research Center (LCRC)


Natural Climate:


Corucia zebrata is a high-canopy arboreal lizard (Schnirel {POLYPHEMOS -2004}) . In

the Solomon archipelago, there is little seasonal variation in temperature. Rainfall

varies in that there is a dry season from June- August and a wet season from

February to May and from September to November.

Temperature varies in latitude with the average temperature declining about 4

degrees F. per 990 feet change in elevation. Taking this and information from

23 year climate data from Honiara on Guadalcanal which has an elevation of 594

feet, the following can be complied on Corucia temperture at the appropriate

higher elevation. The general range in temperature would be from 68 degrees F. at

night and 84 degrees F. during the day. Extremes compensated for elevation would

be 59 degrees at the absolute minimum and 92 degrees at the maximum. The upper

canopy in the mountains would have a decending airflow at night during semi-prime

Corucia activity. The upper elevations at night have Katabatic winds (also known as

Fall or Bora winds) which decend towards the coast as the lower elevations have an

outward flow of air towards the warmer, nighttime ocean.

Evaporation at prime temperature and humidity with a gentle downward Katabatic









wind would be at 6.17 - 9.33 mm (.24 -.37 inches) in a 24 hr. period. A value greater

than the maximum would cause uncomfort and desiccation to Corucia zebrata. A

consistent lower rate of evaporation from the minimum can lead to parasitic fungal

and bacteria infections. The Moon Condition characterised by crater-like pits

(Schnirel, 2002) Is caused by Pseudomonas bacteria (DuPont, 2002). Since climatic

studies have not been done in the higher terrain of the Solomons; let alone the

upper-canopy, this data is based on research done at the Leeway Corucia Research

Center (LCRC) using a L-2 series evaporimeter with a 30 mm diameter. Conditions

of the upper rainforest canopy in the higher terrain environment of Corucia zebrata

were duplicated as much as possible to the conditions described above. This included

a slight downward Katabatic-like airflow at night. The conditions used would be

optimum and matchable for captive propagation of Corucia zebrata and thus, these

evaporation figures would be of greatest value for non wild Corucia. Due to no

actual studies in the canopies where Corucia zebrata reside, some slight

variation in the above results are possible. Some factors to consider can be

amount of filtered sunlight, % of time the Corucia canopy is in a cloud forest

environment (Quantity of water held in the clouds), height arrangement of the

forest canopy, and velocity / turbulence of the wind. Merriam (1973) studied










the effects of horizontal preciptation (fog drip) using artifical leaves in a fog

wind tunnel. The special distribution of leaves and the properties of their

surface may have to be taken into account for assessment of area evaporation.

This would be especially so during periods of precipitation. Fog drip depends

on total leaf surface as well as whether the leaves possess drip tips.

Assessment of the leaves of the high canopy of the Solomon archipelago

would depend on the ratio of tree leaves and their relative design to leaves

of Pothos and other vines present in the canopy.


Humidity should be 62% at the minimum, with 84-92% an average. Since heavy

rainshowers are common, especially in the wet season, 100% is common and relished

by Corucia which become very active in a downpour. However, as mentioned

above, excessive periods of stagnant humidity at or near 100% is unnatural and

potentially detrimental.





Corucia based on captive observations seem to prefer to drink water in the

following three categories:



1). Being from a rainforest environment, Corucia seem to prefer first to obtain

drinking water directly from natural rain showers which are often frequent in the

Solomons, primarily in the rainy season.


2). Also indicative of a rainforest environment, Corucia will drink water

secondarily from standing leaves- especially those of a drip-tip design (designed

to eliminate excess water by the plant; thereby stopping fungal growth).


3). If pools are available, (In the wild tree top canopy, this would manifest

itself through pools in crouches of trees), Corucia will tertiary drink water from

this method.



References:


de Vosjoli Phillippe; Account from the Daily journals of Phillippe Fast, Frank; 1995. de Vosjoli and Frank Fast. The Vivarium,
Volume 6-Number 5, Escondido, California,
U.S.A. pp 4-7, 12-17, 36-38, 40-44.


McCoy, Michael; Reptiles of the Solomon Islands. Wau Ecology
1980. Institute, Handbook No. 7:30. Papua New
Guinea.

Merriam, R.A. Fog drip from artificial leaves in a fog wind
1973. tunnel. Water Resources Research 9(6) :
1591 - 1596.


Parker, F.; 1983. The prehensile tailed-skink (Corucia zebrata)
on Bougainville Island, Papua New Guinea.
Advances in Herpetology and Evolutionary
Biology, Museum of Comparative Zoology,
Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S.A. pp.
435-440.

Schnirel, Brian L. 2004. Seni biometric analysis on the extinct Scincidae species:
Macroscincus coctei. Polyphemos, Volume 2, Issue 1,
May, Florence, South Carolina, U.S.A. pp. 12-22.


Brian
LCRC

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