Evolutionary ecophysiology in extreme environments under a global change scenario

Area of Science:

• Ecology and evolutionary biology
• Conservation physiology
• Environmental science

Background:

• Wildlife increasingly encounters extreme environmental conditions beyond normal ranges.
• Understanding ecological and evolutionary dynamics is crucial for animal conservation.
• Defining 'extreme' involves natural/anthropogenic disturbances, intensity, and species-specific biology.

Purpose of the Study:

• Discuss eco-physiological singularities of wildlife coping with extreme conditions.
• Illustrate diverse wildlife responses through case studies.
• Identify knowledge gaps and propose future research directions.

Main Methods:

• Review and discussion of eco-physiological responses to extreme environments.
• Presentation of five case studies: high-altitude birds, geothermal fish, pesticide-exposed birds, urban pond invertebrates, and radioactive zone amphibians.
• Emphasis on distinguishing natural vs. anthropogenic disturbances and considering species biology.

Main Results:

• Wildlife exhibits diverse physiological and ecological responses to extreme factors.
• Case studies demonstrate adaptation complexity across various extreme scenarios.
• Significant knowledge gaps exist regarding long-term effects and mechanistic bases of these responses.

Conclusions:

• Future research needs long-term approaches using validated physiological markers.
• Integrating physiological data with models like Species Distribution Models (SDMs) can predict impacts.
• Holistic physiological approaches enhance understanding of resilience and improve conservation management.