A simple and dynamic thermal gradient device for measuring thermal performance in small ectotherms.

ABSTRACT: The body temperature of ectothermic animals is heavily dependent on environmental temperature, impacting fitness. Laboratory exposure to favorable and unfavorable temperatures is used to understand these effects, as well as the physiological, biochemical, and molecular underpinnings of variation in thermal performance. Although small ectotherms, like insects, can often be easily reared in large numbers, it can be challenging and expensive to simultaneously create and manipulate several thermal environments in a laboratory setting. Here, we describe the creation and use of a thermal gradient device that can produce a wide range of constant or varying temperatures concurrently. Conservatively, this system as designed can operate between -6 °C and 40 °C. This device is composed of a solid alu

SUBMITTER: Ritchie MW 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9387499 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature