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

• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1316145111
• Publication Date: 2014-03-10T21:34:20Z
• Authors: Jennifer M. Sunday; Amanda E. Bates; Michael R. Kearney; Robert K. Colwell; Nicholas K. Dulvy; John T. Longino; Raymond B. Huey
• Keywords: Insecta; Behavior, Animal; Geography; Acclimatization; 590; Temperature; Reptiles; 15. Life on land; Amphibians; Species Specificity; 13. Climate action; Animals; Ecosystem; Body Temperature Regulation

Significance We find that most terrestrial ectotherms are insufficiently tolerant of high temperatures to survive the warmest potential body temperatures in exposed habitats and must therefore thermoregulate by using shade, burrows, or evaporative cooling. Our results reveal that exposure to extreme heat can occur even at high elevations and latitudes and show why heat-tolerance limits are relatively invariant in comparison with cold limits. To survive climate warming, ectotherms in most areas may need to rely on behaviors—and have access to habitats—that provide a reprieve from extreme operative temperatures.