Can respiratory physiology predict thermal niches?

Area of Science:

• Thermal ecology
• Physiological ecology
• Climate change biology

Background:

• Predicting species' responses to global warming is crucial for climate change science.
• Understanding species vulnerability requires a mechanistic approach grounded in organismal physiology.
• Respiratory physiology offers critical insights into thermal tolerance and ecological niches.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the contributions of respiratory physiology to thermal ecology.
• To explore how respiratory challenges influence species' thermal niches and fitness.
• To advocate for an integrative approach to studying climate change impacts on species.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of respiratory physiology in thermal ecology.
• Analysis of oxygen uptake, CO2 excretion, and water homeostasis in response to temperature.
• Examination of energetic consequences and fitness implications of thermal stress.

Main Results:

• In aquatic environments, oxygen delivery can limit thermal tolerance under warming.
• On land, water loss may constrain activity, even if temperatures are not lethal.
• Respiratory challenges, including water balance, significantly affect species' energy intake and long-term fitness.

Conclusions:

• Respiratory physiology is fundamental to understanding species' vulnerability to climate warming.
• An integrative, multivariate approach is needed, considering respiratory challenges, thermal responses, and energetic consequences.
• Future research should focus on these integrated aspects to predict species' adaptive capacities.