Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 10, 2026
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Field-Based Thermal Physiology Assay: Cold Shock Recovery under Ambient Conditions
Published on: March 9, 2021
3.5K
Life cycle complexity drives variation in thermal tolerance and plasticity.
Patrice Pottier1, Vanessa Kellermann2, Daniel W A Noble3
1Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden; Division of Ecology and Evolution, Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia; Evolution & Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Current Opinion in Insect Science
|April 8, 2026
Summary
Insect heat tolerance differs across life stages, influenced by development and environment. Understanding these ontogenetic shifts is key to predicting insect responses to extreme heat.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Evolutionary Biology
- Insect Physiology
Background:
- Heat tolerance in insects is known to vary significantly across developmental stages.
- Generalizing patterns of this variation across diverse insect species remains challenging.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore how diverse insect developmental strategies influence thermal environments and heat tolerance across ontogeny.
- To hypothesize factors driving variation in heat tolerance, plasticity, and carry-over effects during insect development.
- To emphasize the need for an ontogenetic perspective in predicting insect vulnerability to extreme heat.
Main Methods:
- This study is a review and synthesis of existing evidence.
- It discusses theoretical frameworks and hypotheses regarding insect thermal tolerance.
- It analyzes the impact of developmental strategies and environmental transitions on heat exposure and tolerance.
Main Results:
- Insect developmental strategies significantly shape the intensity and predictability of thermal environments.
- Pronounced developmental transitions (e.g., in holometabolous insects) are expected to increase variation in heat tolerance.
- Carry-over effects between life stages are influenced by environmental predictability and ecological similarity.
Conclusions:
- An ontogenetic approach, considering microenvironmental conditions for each life stage, is crucial for predicting insect responses to heat.
- Understanding developmental plasticity and carry-over effects is essential for assessing insect vulnerability to climate change.
- Future research should integrate ontogenetic and microenvironmental data to refine predictions of insect thermal tolerance.
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