Macroevolution of thermal tolerance in intertidal crabs from Neotropical provinces: A phylogenetic comparative evaluation of critical limits.

ABSTRACT: Thermal tolerance underpins most biogeographical patterns in ectothermic animals. Macroevolutionary patterns of thermal limits have been historically evaluated, but a role for the phylogenetic component in physiological variation has been neglected. Three marine zoogeographical provinces are recognized throughout the Neotropical region based on mean seawater temperature (T_m): the Brazilian (T_m = 26 °C), Argentinian (T_m = 15 °C), and Magellanic (T_m = 9 °C) provinces. Microhabitat temperature (MHT) was measured, and the upper (UL ₅₀) and lower (LL ₅₀) critical thermal limits were established for 12 eubrachyuran crab species from intertidal zones within these three provinces. A molecular phylogenetic

SUBMITTER: Faria SC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5415543 | biostudies-literature | 2017 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature