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      Revisiting concepts of thermal physiology: Predicting responses of mammals to climate change

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          Thermal-safety margins and the necessity of thermoregulatory behavior across latitude and elevation.

          Physiological thermal-tolerance limits of terrestrial ectotherms often exceed local air temperatures, implying a high degree of thermal safety (an excess of warm or cold thermal tolerance). However, air temperatures can be very different from the equilibrium body temperature of an individual ectotherm. Here, we compile thermal-tolerance limits of ectotherms across a wide range of latitudes and elevations and compare these thermal limits both to air and to operative body temperatures (theoretically equilibrated body temperatures) of small ectothermic animals during the warmest and coldest times of the year. We show that extreme operative body temperatures in exposed habitats match or exceed the physiological thermal limits of most ectotherms. Therefore, contrary to previous findings using air temperatures, most ectotherms do not have a physiological thermal-safety margin. They must therefore rely on behavior to avoid overheating during the warmest times, especially in the lowland tropics. Likewise, species living at temperate latitudes and in alpine habitats must retreat to avoid lethal cold exposure. Behavioral plasticity of habitat use and the energetic consequences of thermal retreats are therefore critical aspects of species' vulnerability to climate warming and extreme events.
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            Shrinking body size as an ecological response to climate change

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              Climate change and extreme heat events.

              The association between climate change and the frequency and intensity of extreme heat events is now well established. General circulation models of climate change predict that heatwaves will become more frequent and intense, especially in the higher latitudes, affecting large metropolitan areas that are not well adapted to them. Exposure to extreme heat is already a significant public health problem and the primary cause of weather-related mortality in the U.S. This article reviews major epidemiologic risk factors associated with mortality from extreme heat exposure and discusses future drivers of heat-related mortality, including a warming climate, the urban heat island effect, and an aging population. In addition, it considers critical areas of an effective public health response including heat response plans, the use of remote sensing and GIS methodologies, and the importance of effective communications strategies.
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                Author and article information

                Journal
                Journal of Animal Ecology
                J Anim Ecol
                Wiley
                00218790
                July 2018
                July 2018
                March 30 2018
                : 87
                : 4
                : 956-973
                Affiliations
                [1 ]Brain Function Research Group; School of Physiology; Faculty of Health Sciences; University of the Witwatersrand; Johannesburg South Africa
                [2 ]School of Human Sciences; University of Western Australia; Crawley WA Australia
                [3 ]School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences; Faculty of Science; University of the Witwatersrand; Johannesburg South Africa
                [4 ]Department of Environmental Science; University of South Africa; Johannesburg South Africa
                Article
                10.1111/1365-2656.12818
                29479693
                00915415-111a-4a06-b30e-74b8bfb2198e
                © 2018

                http://doi.wiley.com/10.1002/tdm_license_1.1

                http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor

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