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Updated: May 17, 2026

High-Throughput Assays of Critical Thermal Limits in Insects

High-Throughput Assays of Critical Thermal Limits in Insects

Published on: June 15, 2020

Variation in thermal performance among insect populations.

Brent J Sinclair¹, Caroline M Williams, John S Terblanche

¹Department of Biology, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada. bsincla7@uwo.ca

Physiological and Biochemical Zoology : PBZ

|October 27, 2012

Summary

Insect populations show varied thermal performance, crucial for predicting climate change impacts. Understanding the genetic and environmental factors driving these differences is key to insect evolution and survival.

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Area of Science:

Ecology
Evolutionary Biology
Climate Change Biology

Background:

Insect thermal performance variation among populations is vital for evolutionary studies.
Predicting insect adaptation to climate change requires understanding thermal biology.

Purpose of the Study:

To review and discuss among-population variation in insect thermal performance.
To explore mechanisms, constraints, and fitness implications of thermal variation.

Main Methods:

Literature review of key examples of insect thermal performance variation.
Discussion of latitudinal gradients, metabolic biochemistry, and range expansion impacts.

Main Results:

Substantial evidence exists for insect thermal performance variation correlated with local climates.
Underlying mechanisms and field fitness implications of this variation remain poorly understood.

Conclusions:

A genes-to-environment approach is needed to fully understand insect thermal biology.
Further research is required to elucidate mechanisms and fitness consequences of evolved thermal variation.