Variation in ectotherm thermal tolerances with elevation and temperature across biological scales

Khaliq, Imran; Lavender, Edward; Kamran, Haseeb; Shahid, Muhammad Junaid; Sheraz, Muhammad; Awais, Muhammad; Shabir, Mehtab; Yasir, Muhammad; Hameed, Abdul; Asgher, Muhammad; Rehman, Abdul; Riaz, Maria; Bowler, Diana E.; Hof, Christian

Variation in ectotherm thermal tolerances with elevation and temperature across biological scales

Khaliq, Imran ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1120-6181; Lavender, Edward ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8040-7489; Kamran, Haseeb; Shahid, Muhammad Junaid; Sheraz, Muhammad; Awais, Muhammad; Shabir, Mehtab; Yasir, Muhammad; Hameed, Abdul; Asgher, Muhammad; Rehman, Abdul; Riaz, Maria; Bowler, Diana E. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7775-1668; Hof, Christian. 2025 Variation in ectotherm thermal tolerances with elevation and temperature across biological scales. Global Ecology and Biogeography, 34 (10), e70135. 12, pp. 10.1111/geb.70135

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Official URL: https://doi.org/10.1111/geb.70135

Abstract/Summary

•Aim: Variation in thermal tolerances along environmental gradients is assumed to follow similar patterns across different biological scales, including within and between species, and across communities. However, this assumption has yet to be tested using comprehensive datasets collected through standardised methodologies. •Location: Southern Asia. •Time Period: 2017–2019. •Major Taxa Studied: Ants, beetles, grasshoppers, and spiders. •Methods: We quantified the associations between thermal tolerance traits and elevation or temperature at three biological scales (community, broad taxonomic group, and species) along two distinct elevational transects in Southern Asia. In total, we measured thermal tolerances of over 15,000 individuals from 114 arthropod species belonging to four invertebrate taxa (ants, beetles, grasshoppers, and spiders). We compared the relationships at each scale using mixed‐effects models. •Results: At the community scale, across all individuals of all species, we found a consistent decline in the values of three thermal tolerance traits (upper tolerance, lower tolerance, and tolerance breadth) with elevation along the Himalayan transect but an increase in the values of upper and lower tolerance along the Sulaiman transect. The relationships of thermal tolerance traits and elevation/temperature varied among the groups and species between the Himalayan and Sulaiman transects. This suggests that factors beyond elevation, including vegetation composition, microclimate, landscape features, and local adaptation, drive observed variation in thermal tolerance traits among and within species. •Conclusion: Our study highlights the interplay between thermal physiology and the environment across different habitats and biological scales. Our findings indicate that predicting biodiversity responses to environmental change based on thermal tolerance–environment relationships requires careful consideration of group‐ and species‐level variation. This is essential for improving the accuracy of climate change impact assessments on biodiversity.

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

10.1111/geb.70135

UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:

Biodiversity and Land Use (2025-)

ISSN:

1466-822X

Additional Information:

Open Access paper - full text available via Official URL link.

Additional Keywords:

ants, beetles, biological scales, CT max, CT min, elevation, grasshoppers, spiders, temperature, thermal tolerance