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(Reference retrieved automatically from Web of Science through information on FAPESP grant and its corresponding number as mentioned in the publication by the authors.)

Extreme operative temperatures are better descriptors of the thermal environment than mean temperatures

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Author(s):
Camacho, Agustin [1] ; Rodrigues, Miguel Trefaut [1] ; Navas, Carlos [2]
Total Authors: 3
Affiliation:
[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Inst Biociencias, Dept Zool, Lab Herpetol, BR-05508090 Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil
[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Inst Biociencias, Dept Fisiol, Lab Ecofisiol & Fisiol Evolut, BR-05508090 Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil
Total Affiliations: 2
Document type: Journal article
Source: Journal of Thermal Biology; v. 49-50, p. 106-111, APR-MAY 2015.
Web of Science Citations: 15
Abstract

In ecological studies of thermal biology the thermal environment is most frequently described using the mean or other measures of central tendency in environmental temperatures. However, this procedure may hide biologically relevant thermal variation for ectotherms, potentially misleading interpretations. Extremes of operative temperatures (EOT) can help with this problem by bracketing the thermal environment of focal animals. Within this paper, we quantify how mean operative temperatures relate to the range of simultaneously available operative temperatures (a measure of error). We also show how EOT: 1) detect more thermal differences among microsites than measures of central tendency, like the mean OT, 2) allow inferring on microsite use by ectothermic animals, and 3) clarify the relationships between field operative temperatures and temperatures measured at weather stations (WS). To do that, we explored operative temperatures measured at four sites of the Brazilian Caatingas and their correspondent nearest weather stations. We found that the daily mean OT can hide temperature ranges of 41 degrees C simultaneously available at our study sites. In addition, EOT detected more thermal differences among microsites than central quantiles. We also show how EOT allow inferring about microsite use of ectothermic animals in a given site. Finally, the daily maximum temperature and the daily temperature range measured at WSs predicted well the minimum available field OT at localities many kilometers away. Based on our results, we recommend the use of EOT, instead of mean OT, in thermal ecology studies. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. (AU)

FAPESP's process: 08/57687-0 - Effects of global climate change of the Brazilian fauna: a conservation physiology approach
Grantee:Carlos Arturo Navas Iannini
Support Opportunities: Research Program on Global Climate Change - Thematic Grants