biostudies-literatureWild KHEcological Society of Australia IncorporatedAustralian Research Council1823-1836https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC12424282biostudies-literatureUnknown94(9)Temperature profoundly influences the distribution and diversity of ectotherms, yet in natural settings, interactions between environmental temperatures, behaviour, physiological function and the influence of these factors on individual survival remain poorly understood. In particular, it is unclear as to how trade-offs between these factors are optimised in wild, free-ranging species. We combined temperature-sensitive radio transmitters and accelerometers to measure in situ body temperatures and field-based thermal locomotor performance, estimating thermal optimum and maximum performance. This allowed us to quantify the effectiveness of thermoregulation in the wild and determine whether seasonal trade-offs in thermoregulatory behaviour shape thermal performance and influence survival in tThe Journal of animal ecologyThermal performance curves, activity and survival in a free-ranging ectotherm.PMC12424282DP170101147Roe JHPearson PRSarre SDWild KHCurran JSchwanz LGeorges AfalseThermal performance curves, activity and survival in a free-ranging ectotherm.Temperature profoundly influences the distribution and diversity of ectotherms, yet in natural settings, interactions between environmental temperatures, behaviour, physiological function and the influence of these factors on individual survival remain poorly understood. In particular, it is unclear as to how trade-offs between these factors are optimised in wild, free-ranging species. We combined temperature-sensitive radio transmitters and accelerometers to measure in situ body temperatures and field-based thermal locomotor performance, estimating thermal optimum and maximum performance. This allowed us to quantify the effectiveness of thermoregulation in the wild and determine whether seasonal trade-offs in thermoregulatory behaviour shape thermal performance and influence survival in t2025-01-01T00:00:00Z2025 Sep2026-06-01T23:32:29.955Z2026-05-24T03:07:04.221ZS-EPMC124242824066812310.1111/1365-2656.70091