Coadaptation: A Unifying Principle in Evolutionary Thermal Biology

Abstract

Over the last 50 yr, thermal biology has shifted from a largely physiological science to a more integrated science of behavior, physiology, ecology, and evolution. Today, the mechanisms that underlie responses to environmental temperature are being scrutinized at levels ranging from genes to organisms. From these investigations, a theory of thermal adaptation has emerged that describes the evolution of thermoregulation, thermal sensitivity, and thermal acclimation. We review and integrate current models to form a conceptual model of coadaptation. We argue that major advances will require a quantitative theory of coadaptation that predicts which strategies should evolve in specific thermal environments. Simply combining current models, however, is insufficient to understand the responses of organisms to thermal heterogeneity; a theory of coadaptation must also consider the biotic interactions that influence the net benefits of behavioral and physiological strategies. Such a theory will be challenging to develop because each organism's perception of and response to thermal heterogeneity depends on its size, mobility, and life span. Despite the challenges facing thermal biologists, we have never been more pressed to explain the diversity of strategies that organisms use to cope with thermal heterogeneity and to predict the consequences of thermal change for the diversity of communities.

Why tropical forest lizards are vulnerable to climate warming

“…Consequently, mean T b (herein) and also maximal T b (van Berkum 1988, p. 335) are generally independent of latitude (but see, Clark & Kroll 1974), but do tend to show strong phylogenetic conservatism (Huey 1982;Hertz et al 1983) and a strong association with habitat and basking behaviour (herein, Ruibal 1961;Clark & Kroll 1974). Because T b , T o and CT max are likely to be co-adapted traits ( Huey & Bennett 1987;Huey & Kingsolver 1993;Angilletta et al 2006;Angilletta 2009), we are not surprised that these thermal traits were closely associated with phylogenetic affinities and basking behaviour.…”

Biophysics, environmental stochasticity, and the evolution of thermal safety margins in intertidal limpets

“…These complexities and the associated logistical challenges in quantifying their effects apply particularly to any 'non-model' organism with a life span longer than a few weeks. In addition, our model does not account for possible coadaptation of the various aspects of thermal tolerance and thermal performance (Angilletta et al, 2006); for example, we assume the unlikely scenario that all genotypes exhibit the same body temperature threshold for induction of the thermal stress response.…”

Heat transfer in fish: are short excursions between habitats a thermoregulatory behaviour to exploit resources in an unfavourable thermal environment?

“…Not surprisingly, a thermal niche theory has emerged, and the potential consequences in terms of individual fitness and thermal adaptation have been investigated (Magnuson et al, 1979;Angilletta et al, 2006;Martin and Huey, 2008). As mobile animals, fish have developed behavioural thermoregulatory tactics to cope with the thermal heterogeneity in the environment (Tanaka et al, 2000;Sims et al, 2006;Goyer et al, 2014).…”