Temperate insects with narrow seasonal activity periods can be as vulnerable to climate change as tropical insect  species.

ABSTRACT: The magnitude and ecological impact of climate change varies with latitude. Several recent models have shown that tropical ectotherms face the greatest risk from warming because they currently experience temperatures much closer to their physiological optimum than temperate taxa. Even a small increase in temperature may thus result in steep fitness declines in tropical species but increased fitness in temperate species. This prediction, however, is based on a model that does not account for latitudinal differences in activity periods. Temperate species in particular may often experience considerably higher temperatures than expected during the active season. Here, we integrate data on insect warming tolerance and temperature-dependent development to re-evaluate latitudinal trends in therma

SUBMITTER: Johansson F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7264184 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature