## A Quick User Guide for Biomimetic Loggers in Mountain Landscapes
### Materials  
In essence, any biomimetic logger is composed of a data-logger whose probe is inserted into a biomimetic model [134]. Of course, the material should be chosen according to the parameter(s) one wishes to measure, e.g., humidity and temperature, and the characteristics of the probe, e.g., range, accuracy, resolution, and drift [65]. Whatever the kind of data-logger, the main challenge is to built a biomimetic model with same physical properties than organism [11; 46]. To measure the operative temperature, a body temperature proxy, the biomimetic model has the same thermal characteristics as the animal in terms of radiation, conduction and convection and the data-logger is coupled to a thermal probe [46; 55; 61]. Similarly, to study the dehydration risk, the biomimetic model presents the water characteristics of the animal and a probe measures the relative humidity inside the model [135]. An infinite number of models can be constructed to answer a wide variety of biological questions.  
To test the representativeness of biomimetic model, one usual approach is to compare data measured from the (physical) model and from the (biological) individual. For lizards, biomimetic models used are most often made of copper, PVC, or polypropylene [11; 83; 114]. To assess their reliability, a probe is inserted inside and the three types of models are placed in a vivarium with an individual equipped with a cloacal temperature sensor. At regular time intervals, temperatures are measured and then the four recorded series are compared [63]. This methodology permits to identify which type of model best represents the organism properties, with what accuracy, and to modify it if necessary.  
In our study, like so many others (see, for example, in [11]), we use HOBO(r) Pro v2 Onset U23-003 data-loggers with one or two temperature sensors. The environmentally friendly and robust housing of the HOBO Pro v2 data-logger is designed for years of reliable use in outdoor applications. Models U23-001 and U23-002 are also equipped with user-replace RH sensors. The recorder uses an optical USB communication interface (via hand-held or compatible base station) for launching and reading the recorder. The optical interface allows the recorder to be discharged without compromising the electronics. USB compatibility allows easy installation and fast downloads. HOBOware(r) software version 2.2.1 or higher is required for operation of the recorder. For Onset HOBO(r) Pro v2 hardware, visit www.onsectomy.com for compatible software. This type of data-logger is the simplest and most commonly used type: it requires only connection to the computer using a hand-held station to launch it and further connection to download the data [23].  
There are more sophisticated types of data-loggers, such as those requiring a radio communication to transfer the data to the computer. The computer only needs to be close to the data-logger to collect the data, thus keeping the data-logger in place for the duration of the study. The battery lasts longer, accuracy and resolution are better. However, the radio channel is not available worldwide, which may hamper its use, and the cost is twice as high as the first type [65]. Other studies use \"cloud data-loggers\" [125], where data are sent directly to a server [136; 137]. This type of data-logger has the enormous advantage of obtaining data in real time and thus being able to control the quality of the data and the correctness of the recording, but the cost of the equipment is much higher. It seems that they are (at least yet) not currently or widely used with biomimetic models.