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Updated: Jan 11, 2026

Field-Based Thermal Physiology Assay: Cold Shock Recovery under Ambient Conditions
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Temperature Variability Has Limited Effects on Phenotypic Plasticity in Ectotherms-A Meta-Analysis.

Clayton W Stocker1, Stephanie M Bamford1, Miki Jahn1

  • 1School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia.

Ecology Letters
|November 9, 2025
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Phenotypic plasticity in ectotherms is generally unaffected by temperature fluctuations, with changes in mean temperature being the primary driver. This finding is crucial for understanding animal responses to climate change.

Keywords:
acclimationanimalclimate changedevelopmental plasticityectothermresiliencetemperature variability

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Area of Science:

  • Ecology
  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Physiology

Background:

  • Phenotypic plasticity allows ectotherms to cope with environmental changes.
  • Understanding how thermal variability impacts plasticity is vital for predicting species' responses to climate change.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To synthesize current knowledge on how thermal variability affects phenotypic plasticity in ectotherms.
  • To compare plasticity under constant versus fluctuating temperatures across traits, ecosystems, and plasticity types.

Main Methods:

  • Quantitative synthesis of 46 studies on phenotypic plasticity in ectotherms.
  • Comparison of plasticity in response to constant and fluctuating temperatures with identical means.
  • Analysis across different traits, terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, and acclimation vs. developmental plasticity.

Main Results:

  • Most studies (98%) used diel temperature fluctuations, with data primarily from invertebrates.
  • No significant difference in phenotypic plasticity was observed between constant and fluctuating temperature environments.
  • A minor effect of fluctuating temperatures was noted on developmental time.

Conclusions:

  • Phenotypic plasticity in ectotherms is more strongly influenced by shifts in mean temperatures than by temperature fluctuations.
  • Longer-term temperature changes are likely the dominant factor driving plastic responses in ectothermic animals.