Vulnerability to warming in a desert amphibian tadpole community: the role of interpopulational variation

• DOI: 10.1111/jzo.12850
• Publication Date: 2020-12-18T11:49:58Z
• Authors: E. A. Sanabria; E. González; L. B. Quiroga; M. Tejedo
• Keywords: Ectotherm; Tadpole (physics); Critical thermal maximum

Abstract Current assessments of organismal vulnerability to global warming are focusing on physiological trait‐based indices that may allow biologically sounding estimates heating risk at the local scale. However, intraspecific variability in both exposure and performance determine large heterogeneity distribution risks through overall species range compromising whole assessments. We examine intra‐ interspecific two indexes: tolerances (WT), or extent maximum temperatures ( T max ) reaching upper thermal (CT ); safety margin (TSM), magnitude average environmental mean exceeding selected preferred sel ), a subtropical warm amphibian tadpole community, Monte Desert ecoregion, Argentina. Tadpole populations breeds temporary ponds permanent streams exhibit high heterogeneity. Those living hot water bodies, although exhibiting higher CT , have lower WT more prone suffer acute heat impacts, thus confirming prediction ectotherms exposed temperatures. these pond breeders, closer their also temperatures, showing TSMs being actually proportion stressful than cool selecting populations. Both TSM indexes significant interpopulational variation. Thus, our findings suggest attempts build mechanistic models forecast stress due climate change include variation among