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Using a Split-belt Treadmill to Evaluate Generalization of Human Locomotor Adaptation
Published on: August 23, 2017
Thermal dependence of locomotor capacity
1Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Irvine 92717.
The American Journal of Physiology
|August 1, 1990
Summary
Vertebrate ectotherms show optimal locomotor performance near lethal temperatures, with poor cold adaptation. Individual performance rankings remain consistent across temperatures, despite limited acclimation.
Area of Science:
- Zoology
- Physiology
- Ecology
Background:
- Locomotor performance in ectotherms is highly dependent on body temperature.
- Understanding thermal performance is crucial for predicting ecological and evolutionary responses to climate change.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the thermal dependence of locomotor speed and endurance in vertebrate ectotherms.
- To assess the capacity for acclimation to varying temperatures and its impact on performance.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing studies on locomotor performance across different body temperatures.
- Analysis of data on behavioral compensation and individual performance consistency.
- Examination of attributes related to evolutionary adaptation in locomotor performance.
Main Results:
- Optimal locomotor performance occurs at high body temperatures, near lethal limits.
- Performance significantly decreases at low temperatures, with limited behavioral compensation.
- Acclimation to cold is generally incomplete or absent in most species.
- Relative performance rankings among individuals are maintained across temperatures.
- Locomotor performance exhibits traits conducive to evolutionary adaptation, though phylogenetic factors complicate comparisons.
Conclusions:
- Vertebrate ectotherm locomotor capacity is strongly temperature-dependent, with limited adaptive plasticity.
- Incomplete acclimation suggests vulnerability to rapid environmental temperature shifts.
- Phylogenetic constraints may influence the evolution of thermal tolerance in locomotor performance.
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