Low desiccation and thermal tolerance constrains a terrestrial amphibian to a rare and disappearing microclimate niche.

ABSTRACT: Drier and hotter conditions caused by climate change threaten species that exist close to their physiological limits, as well as those with limited ability to move. Habitat specialists may also be particularly vulnerable if they have specific abiotic requirements. Here we assess whether thermal and hydric constraints can explain the highly restricted and declining distributions of the critically endangered terrestrial-breeding frog, Geocrinia alba. We also evaluate the species' vulnerability to climate change based on the similarity of current microclimatic conditions to their physiological limits. We found that G. alba had low thresholds of thermal and desiccation tolerance relative to other anuran species. The estimated thermal optimum (T_opt ) and critical

SUBMITTER: Hoffmann EP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8084025 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature