Insect size responses to climate change vary across elevations according to seasonal timing.

ABSTRACT: Body size declines are a common response to warming via both plasticity and evolution, but variable size responses have been observed for terrestrial ectotherms. We investigate how temperature-dependent development and growth rates in ectothermic organisms induce variation in size responses. Leveraging long-term data for six montane grasshopper species spanning 1,768-3 901 m, we detect size shifts since ~1960 that depend on elevation and species' seasonal timing. Size shifts have been concentrated at low elevations, with the early emerging species (those that overwinter as juveniles) increasing in size, while later season species are becoming smaller. Interannual temperature variation accounts for the size shifts. The earliest season species may be able to take advantage of warmer conditio

SUBMITTER: Nufio CR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11783300 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature