Climate change is evident in countries of South America, including Chile, and computer models predict temperature increases into the next century. Montane taxa show upward range extensions associated with warming temperatures, but it has been definitively shown in lizards only in a few studies. Despite the likelihood of this phenomenon, there has been no test of the hypothesis of upslope range extension associated with recent rapid temperature increases in lizards of the temperate Andes. Chile is an extremely mountainous country with an impressive diversity of montane lizards. This study is the first to test the idea of climate linked upward range shifts in lizards of the temperate Andes. Our results will address elevational range shifts in the central region of Chile where other anthropogenic stressors are also in evidence. We will pinpoint what species are shifting their 
elevations upward as a consequence of recent rapid increase in ambient temperatures and relate those shifts to natural features that could amplify extinction risks, like reduced space upward in a local sense, lack of essential habitat, presence of superior competitors and novel predators; and anthropogenic activities that could increase extinction risks, like mining, forestry, and real estate development. Also, we will determine if the species have evolved morphologically in response to climate change, controlling for changes in land use. The second step of our research program is to conduct intensive population surveys of those species that have moved upward into new habitat to appraise their conservation status and implement conservation action as necessary.