Thermodynamic Effects on Organismal Performance: Is Hotter Better?

Angilletta, Michael J.; Huey, Raymond B.; Frazier, Melanie

doi:10.1086/648567

Cited by 285 publications

(349 citation statements)

References 82 publications

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“…Thus, if on the one hand higher temperatures promote a better performance, which possibly will translate in positive effects on fitness (Huey & Kingsolver 1989; Angilletta et al . 2010), on the other hand, higher temperatures associated with low relativity humidity increase the potential for water evaporation, which may culminate in dehydration that, as we found, had the most severe consequences at higher temperatures. Such potential trade‐off may be of limited importance if water availability is plenty and animals can be active at optimal temperatures without compromising their osmotic balance.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 47%

Trading heat and hops for water: Dehydration effects on locomotor performance, thermal limits, and thermoregulatory behavior of a terrestrial toad

Anderson¹,

Andrade²

2017

Ecology and Evolution

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Due to their highly permeable skin and ectothermy, terrestrial amphibians are challenged by compromises between water balance and body temperature regulation. The way in which such compromises are accommodated, under a range of temperatures and dehydration levels, impacts importantly the behavior and ecology of amphibians. Thus, using the terrestrial toad Rhinella schneideri as a model organism, the goals of this study were twofold. First, we determined how the thermal sensitivity of a centrally relevant trait—locomotion—was affected by dehydration. Secondly, we examined the effects of the same levels of dehydration on thermal preference and thermal tolerance. As dehydration becomes more severe, the optimal temperature for locomotor performance was lowered and performance breadth narrower. Similarly, dehydration was accompanied by a decrease in the thermal tolerance range. Such a decrease was caused by both an increase in the critical minimal temperature and a decrease in the thermal maximal temperature, with the latter changing more markedly. In general, our results show that the negative effects of dehydration on behavioral performance and thermal tolerance are, at least partially, counteracted by concurrent adjustments in thermal preference. We discuss some of the potential implications of this observation for the conservation of anuran amphibians.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 47%

Trading heat and hops for water: Dehydration effects on locomotor performance, thermal limits, and thermoregulatory behavior of a terrestrial toad

Anderson¹,

Andrade²

2017

Ecology and Evolution

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“…While increasing temperature tends to increase the rate of biochemical processes, this does not necessarily extend to all aspects of physiology, and increasing temperature may not positively correlate with improved immune competence (Angilletta, Huey, & Frazier, 2010; Murdock et al., 2012; Suwanchaichinda & Paskewitz, 1998). …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Responses to a warming world: Integrating life history, immune investment, and pathogen resistance in a model insect species

Laughton

O'Connor

Knell

2017

Ecology and Evolution

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Environmental temperature has important effects on the physiology and life history of ectothermic animals, including investment in the immune system and the infectious capacity of pathogens. Numerous studies have examined individual components of these complex systems, but little is known about how they integrate when animals are exposed to different temperatures. Here, we use the Indian meal moth (Plodia interpunctella) to understand how immune investment and disease resistance react and potentially trade‐off with other life‐history traits. We recorded life‐history (development time, survival, fecundity, and body size) and immunity (hemocyte counts, phenoloxidase activity) measures and tested resistance to bacterial (E. coli) and viral (Plodia interpunctella granulosis virus) infection at five temperatures (20–30°C). While development time, lifespan, and size decreased with temperature as expected, moths exhibited different reproductive strategies in response to small changes in temperature. At cooler temperatures, oviposition rates were low but tended to increase toward the end of life, whereas warmer temperatures promoted initially high oviposition rates that rapidly declined after the first few days of adult life. Although warmer temperatures were associated with strong investment in early reproduction, there was no evidence of an associated trade‐off with immune investment. Phenoloxidase activity increased most at cooler temperatures before plateauing, while hemocyte counts increased linearly with temperature. Resistance to bacterial challenge displayed a complex pattern, whereas survival after a viral challenge increased with rearing temperature. These results demonstrate that different immune system components and different pathogens can respond in distinct ways to changes in temperature. Overall, these data highlight the scope for significant changes in immunity, disease resistance, and host–parasite population dynamics to arise from small, biologically relevant changes to environmental temperature. In light of global warming, understanding these complex interactions is vital for predicting the potential impact of insect disease vectors and crop pests on public health and food security.

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“…Conversely, when raised at 258C, flies from T populations performed better at 258C but worse at 168C than did flies raised at 168C. The best performance was observed in flies that evolved, developed and were tested at 258C, supporting the view that 'hotter is better' [23]. Table 1.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 70%

Developmental plasticity evolved according to specialist–generalist trade-offs in experimental populations ofDrosophila melanogaster

2016

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We studied the evolution of developmental plasticity in populations of Drosophila melanogaster that evolved at either constant or fluctuating temperatures. Consistent with theory, genotypes that evolved at a constant 16°C or 25°C performed best when raised and tested at that temperature. Genotypes that evolved at fluctuating temperatures performed well at either temperature, but only when raised and tested at the same temperature. Our results confirm evolutionary patterns predicted by theory, including a loss of plasticity and a benefit of specialization in constant environments.

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Thermodynamic Effects on Organismal Performance: Is Hotter Better?

Cited by 285 publications

References 82 publications

Trading heat and hops for water: Dehydration effects on locomotor performance, thermal limits, and thermoregulatory behavior of a terrestrial toad

Trading heat and hops for water: Dehydration effects on locomotor performance, thermal limits, and thermoregulatory behavior of a terrestrial toad

Responses to a warming world: Integrating life history, immune investment, and pathogen resistance in a model insect species

Developmental plasticity evolved according to specialist–generalist trade-offs in experimental populations ofDrosophila melanogaster

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