Behavioral Diversity in Amphibians and Reptiles: Mechanisms, Functions, and Evolution

Behavior is among the most dynamic and diverse aspects of organismal biology, shaping how amphibians and reptiles interact with their environment, acquire resources, avoid predators, reproduce, and ultimately persist in changing ecosystems. Amphibians and reptiles exhibit an extraordinary array of behavioral adaptations, ranging from complex courtship displays and parental care to antipredator defenses, communication strategies, thermoregulatory behaviors, migration, and social interactions. Such behaviors are shaped by ecological pressures and evolutionary processes and often display considerable plasticity, allowing individuals and populations to respond to environmental change. By exploring this diversity, behavioral studies provide fundamental insights into the mechanisms, functions, evolution, and conservation of amphibians and reptiles, while also highlighting the importance of natural history in understanding and protecting global biodiversity.Despite their ecological and evolutionary importance, many aspects of amphibian and reptile behavioral diversity remain understudied, particularly in non-model species and underrepresented regions. Consequently, broad patterns, common mechanisms, and general principles underlying behavioral adaptations can be difficult to identify. Furthermore, many behavioral traits, including reproductive behaviors, antipredator responses, thermoregulation, habitat selection, communication, parental care, and movement, are frequently studied in isolation, limiting our ability to develop a comprehensive understanding of how behavior shapes ecological and evolutionary processes. Rapid environmental change, including climate change, habitat degradation, urbanization, biological invasions, and emerging diseases, further underscores the need for an integrated understanding of behavioral responses and their consequences for population persistence.This Research Topic seeks to address these challenges by bringing together studies that investigate the mechanisms, functions, evolution, and ecological consequences of behavioral variation in amphibians and reptiles. By fostering synthesis across taxa, regions, and research disciplines, this collection aims to advance our understanding of behavioral strategies and plasticity, as well as their ecological, evolutionary, and conservation significance in a rapidly changing world.This Research Topic welcomes contributions exploring the diversity, mechanisms, and ecological significance of behavioral strategies in amphibians and reptiles. We encourage studies integrating behavioral perspectives with ecology, evolution, physiology, conservation, and global change biology across a wide range of taxa and ecosystems.Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:• Reproductive behavior and mating systems• Parental care and offspring interactions• Antipredator behavior and defense strategies• Thermoregulatory behavior• Communication and signaling• Foraging ecology and decision-making• Habitat selection and spatial ecology• Social interactions and behavioral plasticity• Behavioral responses to environmental changeIf you are interested in submitting or have any questions please contact the journal email: amphibianandreptilescience@frontiersin.org Topic editors: Jelena Ćorović, Vukašin Bjelica Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/83321/behavioral-diversity-in-amphibians-and-reptiles-mechanisms-functions-and-evolution