Metabolic traits are shaped by phylogenetic conservatism and environment, not just body size.

ABSTRACT: Metabolic rate dictates life's tempo, yet how ecological and environmental factors integrate to shape metabolic traits remains contentious. Considering metabolic traits of 114 species of ants from seven subfamily clades along a 1,500 km climatic and soil phosphorus availability gradient in Australia, we tested four hypotheses relating to variation in metabolic rate due to niche conservatism, temperature, aridity, and ecological stoichiometry. We also tested the contested hygric hypothesis, which predicts that insect ventilation patterns can be modified to reduce water loss in arid environments. Mass-independent metabolic rate was phylogenetically conserved. The ant clade Myrmecia had metabolic rates 3 to 10× higher than other species, likely related to their large eye size, a correl

SUBMITTER: Leahy L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12305036 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature