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Related Concept Videos

Derivatives: Problem Solving01:26

Derivatives: Problem Solving

Temperature-Dependent Growth of Brook TroutThe growth of brook trout is closely influenced by water temperature. Experimental data demonstrate how trout weight changes over a 24-day period in response to varying water temperatures. At lower temperatures, such as 15.5 degrees Celsius, brook trout show significant weight gain. However, as the temperature increases, the amount of weight gained steadily decreases. At the highest temperature measured, 24.4 degrees Celsius, trout experience a net...
Background and Environment Affect Phenotype02:27

Background and Environment Affect Phenotype

Although the genetic makeup of an organism plays a major role in determining the phenotype, there are also several environmental factors, such as temperature, oxygen availability, presence of mutagens, that can alter an organism’s phenotype.
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Responses to Heat and Cold Stress02:45

Responses to Heat and Cold Stress

Every organism has an optimum temperature range within which healthy growth and physiological functioning can occur. At the ends of this range, there will be a minimum and maximum temperature that interrupt biological processes.
Factors Affecting Body Temperature01:28

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 15, 2026

Field-Based Thermal Physiology Assay: Cold Shock Recovery under Ambient Conditions
07:54

Field-Based Thermal Physiology Assay: Cold Shock Recovery under Ambient Conditions

Published on: March 9, 2021

Thermal Stress Has Size-Dependent but Not Sex-Specific Effects on Mortality in an Insect Model.

Isobel Grieve1, Natalie Pilakouta1

  • 1Centre for Biological Diversity, School of Biology University of St Andrews St Andrews UK.

Ecology and Evolution
|July 14, 2026
PubMed
Summary

Climate change increases heatwaves, threatening ectotherms. Smaller burying beetles experienced higher mortality during heat stress, highlighting size-dependent vulnerability.

Keywords:
burying beetlesclimate changesurvivaltemperature

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Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 15, 2026

Field-Based Thermal Physiology Assay: Cold Shock Recovery under Ambient Conditions
07:54

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Published on: March 9, 2021

High-Throughput Assays of Critical Thermal Limits in Insects
06:58

High-Throughput Assays of Critical Thermal Limits in Insects

Published on: June 15, 2020

Determining Temperature Preference of Mosquitoes and Other Ectotherms
05:31

Determining Temperature Preference of Mosquitoes and Other Ectotherms

Published on: September 28, 2022

Area of Science:

  • Ecology
  • Climate Change Biology
  • Animal Physiology

Background:

  • Rising global temperatures and increased heatwave frequency threaten ectotherm survival.
  • Ectotherms' limited thermoregulation makes them particularly vulnerable to heat stress.
  • Within-population variations in heat sensitivity, like sex or body size, can impact ecological predictions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of heatwaves on burying beetle (Nicrophorus vespilloides) mortality.
  • To determine if sex or body size influences heatwave-induced mortality in this species.
  • To understand how body size mediates thermal sensitivity in ectotherms facing climate change.

Main Methods:

  • Exposed male and female burying beetles of varying body sizes to a simulated heatwave (26°C).
  • Compared mortality rates of heat-exposed beetles to a control group (20°C).
  • Analyzed the relationship between body size, sex, and mortality under heat stress.

Main Results:

  • Beetles exposed to the heatwave showed significantly increased mortality.
  • No significant difference in mortality was observed between male and female beetles.
  • Smaller body size was strongly correlated with higher mortality rates after heatwave exposure.

Conclusions:

  • While sex did not influence heat sensitivity, body size significantly mediated mortality risk.
  • Warming-induced reductions in body size could indirectly increase population mortality.
  • Considering within-population heterogeneity, such as body size, is crucial for predicting climate change impacts on animal populations.