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Updated: Feb 20, 2026
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Modeling the Size Spectrum for Macroinvertebrates and Fishes in Stream Ecosystems
Published on: July 30, 2019
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Mixed Support for the Temperature-Size Rule in Wild Freshwater Fishes
George C Brooks1, Paul N Frater1, Olaf P Jensen1
1Center for Limnology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA.
Ecology Letters
|February 18, 2026
Summary
Warmer temperatures accelerate fish growth and early maturity, but not necessarily smaller adult sizes. Faster life histories in warmer waters may also shorten lifespans, impacting wildlife predictions.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Evolutionary Biology
- Fisheries Science
Background:
- The temperature-size rule predicts smaller adult body sizes in warmer environments.
- Previous studies show mixed evidence for this rule in wild populations.
- A comprehensive test across multiple species and environments is needed.
Purpose of the Study:
- To comprehensively test the temperature-size rule across multiple fish species.
- To quantify temperature-related variation in fish growth throughout their life stages (ontogeny).
- To assess the impact of temperature on size at maturity and maximum size.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of age and length data from 1.4 million fish.
- Inclusion of 7 fish species across 2704 diverse lake environments.
- Quantification of growth rates and size at maturity in relation to water temperature.
Main Results:
- No species fully adhered to the temperature-size rule.
- Juvenile growth and age at maturity aligned with the rule, but not adult size.
- Faster life histories in warmer conditions were linked to reduced lifespans.
Conclusions:
- The temperature-size rule's predictions for adult size are not consistently met in natural fish populations.
- Temperature influences fish life history traits, including growth, maturation, and lifespan.
- Understanding these temperature-driven changes is crucial for predicting wildlife responses to global warming.
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