4.8 Article

Thermal-safety margins and the necessity of thermoregulatory behavior across latitude and elevation

Publisher

NATL ACAD SCIENCES
DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1316145111

Keywords

macrophysiology; operative temperature; climate sensitivity

Funding

  1. Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada
  2. University of British Columbia Biodiversity Research Centre
  3. Canada Research Chairs program
  4. US National Science Foundation [DEB 0639979, DBI 0851245, DEB-1157383, 1038016]
  5. Australian Research Fellowship from the Australian Research Council [DP110102813]
  6. Direct For Biological Sciences
  7. Division Of Integrative Organismal Systems [1038014] Funding Source: National Science Foundation
  8. Division Of Integrative Organismal Systems
  9. Direct For Biological Sciences [1038016] Funding Source: National Science Foundation

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Physiological thermal-tolerance limits of terrestrial ectotherms often exceed local air temperatures, implying a high degree of thermal safety (an excess of warm or cold thermal tolerance). However, air temperatures can be very different from the equilibrium body temperature of an individual ectotherm. Here, we compile thermal-tolerance limits of ectotherms across a wide range of latitudes and elevations and compare these thermal limits both to air and to operative body temperatures (theoretically equilibrated body temperatures) of small ectothermic animals during the warmest and coldest times of the year. We show that extreme operative body temperatures in exposed habitats match or exceed the physiological thermal limits of most ectotherms. Therefore, contrary to previous findings using air temperatures, most ectotherms do not have a physiological thermal-safety margin. They must therefore rely on behavior to avoid overheating during the warmest times, especially in the lowland tropics. Likewise, species living at temperate latitudes and in alpine habitats must retreat to avoid lethal cold exposure. Behavioral plasticity of habitat use and the energetic consequences of thermal retreats are therefore critical aspects of species' vulnerability to climate warming and extreme events.

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