Acute, diel, and annual temperature variability and the thermal biology of ectotherms. (10th October 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kefford, Ben J.; Ghalambor, Cameron K.; Dewenter, Beatrice; Poff, N. LeRoy; Hughes, Jane; Reich, Jollene; Thompson, Ross
• Is Part Of: Global change biology. Volume 28:Number 23(2022)
• Page Start: 6872
• Page End: 6888
• Publication Date: 2022-10-10
• Subjects: acute temperature change -- annual cycles -- climate change -- diel cycles -- ectotherms -- temporal scale -- thermal variability; Climatic changes -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Troposphere -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Biodiversity conservation -- Periodicals; Eutrophication -- Periodicals; 551.5
• DOI: 10.1111/gcb.16453
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1354-1013

Abstract

Abstract: Global warming is increasing mean temperatures and altering temperature variability at multiple temporal scales. To better understand the consequences of changes in thermal variability for ectotherms it is necessary to consider thermal variation at different time scales (i.e., acute, diel, and annual) and the responses of organisms within and across generations. Thermodynamics constrain acute responses to temperature, but within these constraints and over longer time periods, organisms have the scope to adaptively acclimate or evolve. Yet, hypotheses and predictions about responses to future warming tend not to explicitly consider the temporal scale at which temperature varies. Here, focusing on multicellular ectothermic animals, we argue that consideration of multiple processes and constraints associated with various timescales is necessary to better understand how altered thermal variability because of climate change will affect ectotherms. Abstract : Global warming is increasing mean temperatures and altering temperature variability at multiple temporal scales, such as acute, diel, and annual. Organisms have various (potential) constraints and responses to thermal stress, and the importance of these constraints and responses is temporally dependent. Consequently, we argue that organisms' responses and vulnerability to changes in thermal variability resulting from climate change, should be assessed using approaches that explicitly consider different temporal scales.