Urban oases relax desiccation risk for an arid‐adapted lizard

Abstract Urbanization from expanding human development has radically altered the structure, ecology and microclimate of landscapes worldwide. These dramatic environmental alterations subject organisms to novel ecological conditions and may select for distinct ecophysiological traits. Here, we investigate the effects of urbanization on cutaneous evaporative water loss (CEWL) in the Aegean Wall Lizard ( Podarcis erhardii ) and explore the potential environmental factors impacting physiology. In this Mediterranean setting, urban microhabitats were cooler and wetter, and urban lizards displayed higher CEWL than nonurban lizards. Increased urban lizard CEWL is a potential response to relaxed pressure for water conservation in areas with increased water availability from human activities, such as irrigation and ornamental water features. Our findings demonstrate that urbanization may shift microclimates and thus alter ectotherm ecophysiology. Quantifying these changes advances our understanding of how urbanization shapes organismal responses to novel environments and offers insights into adaptation and persistence in human‐modified landscapes. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.