Macrophysiology: a conceptual reunification

Gaston, Kevin J.; Chown, Steven L.; Calosi, Piero; Bernardo, Joseph; Bilton, David T.; Clarke, Andrew ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7582-3074; Clusella-Trullas, Susana; Ghalambor, Cameron K.; Konarzewski, Marek; Peck, Lloyd S. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3479-6791; Porter, Warren P.; Pörtner, Hans O.; Rezende, Enrico L.; Schulte, Patricia M.; Spicer, John I.; Stillman, Jonathon H.; Terblanche, John S.; van Kleunen, Mark. 2009 Macrophysiology: a conceptual reunification. American Naturalist, 174 (5). 595-612. 10.1086/605982

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Abstract/Summary

Widespread recognition of the importance of biological studies at large spatial and temporal scales, particularly in the face of many of the most pressing issues facing humanity, has fueled the argument that there is a need to reinvigorate such studies in physiological ecology through the establishment of a macrophysiology. Following a period when the fields of ecology and physiological ecology had been regarded as largely synonymous, studies of this kind were relatively commonplace in the first half of the twentieth century. However, such large-scale work subsequently became rather scarce as physiological studies concentrated on the biochemical and molecular mechanisms underlying the capacities and tolerances of species. In some sense, macrophysiology is thus an attempt at a conceptual reunification. In this article, we provide a conceptual framework for the continued development of macrophysiology. We subdivide this framework into three major components: the establishment of macrophysiological patterns, determining the form of those patterns (the very general ways in which they are shaped), and understanding the mechanisms that give rise to them. We suggest ways in which each of these components could be developed usefully.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	10.1086/605982
Programmes:	BAS Programmes > Polar Science for Planet Earth (2009 - ) > Ecosystems
ISSN:	0003-0147
NORA Subject Terms:	Meteorology and Climatology Biology and Microbiology Ecology and Environment
Date made live:	01 Nov 2010 11:24 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/10885

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

10.1086/605982

Programmes:

BAS Programmes > Polar Science for Planet Earth (2009 - ) > Ecosystems

ISSN:

0003-0147

NORA Subject Terms:

Meteorology and Climatology
Biology and Microbiology
Ecology and Environment

Date made live:

01 Nov 2010 11:24 +0 (UTC)