10.5061/DRYAD.P73G8
Žagar, Anamarija
National Institute of Biology
University of Porto
Carretero, Miguel A.
University of Porto
Marguč, Diana
National Institute of Biology
Simčič, Tatjana
National Institute of Biology
Vrezec, Al
National Institute of Biology
Data from: A metabolic syndrome in terrestrial ectotherms with different
elevational and distribution patterns
Dryad
dataset
2018
Podarcis muralis
Salamandra salamandra
Salamandra atra
Carabus croaticus
Iberolacerta horvathi
Carabus coriaceus
2018-01-23T15:50:52Z
2018-01-23T15:50:52Z
en
https://doi.org/10.1111/ecog.03411
41594 bytes
1
CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication
The metabolic performance of ectotherms is expected to be driven by the
environment in which they live. Ecologically similar species with
contrasting elevation distributions occurring in sympatry at
mid-elevations, provide good models for studying how physiological
responses to temperature vary as a function of adaptation to different
elevations.. Under sympatry, at middle elevations, where divergent species
ranges overlap, sympatric populations are expected to have similar thermal
responses, suggesting similar local acclimation or adaptation, while
observed differences would suggest adaptation to each species’ core range.
We analysed the metabolic traits of sympatric species pairs from three
ectotherm groups: reptiles (Reptilia: Lacertidae), amphibians (Amphibia:
Salamandridae) and beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae), living at different
elevations, in order to test how adaptation to different elevations
affects metabolic responses to temperature. We experimentally tested the
thermal response of respiration rate (RR) and estimated potential
metabolic activity (PMA) at three temperature regimes surrounding the
groups’ optimal activity body temperatures. RR was relatively similar
among groups and showed a positive response to increasing temperature,
which was more pronounced in the high-elevation species of reptiles and
beetles. Relative to RR, PMA displayed a stronger and more consistent
positive response to increased temperature in all three groups. For all
three groups, the average biochemical capacity for metabolism (PMA) was
higher in the range-restricted, high-elevation species, and this
difference increased at higher temperatures in a consistent manner. These
results, indicating consistent pattern in three independently evolved
animal groups, suggest a ubiquitous adaptive syndrome and represent a
novel understanding of the mechanisms shaping spatial biodiversity
patterns. Our results also highlight the importance of geographic patterns
for the mechanistic understanding of adaptations in physiological traits,
including species’ potential to respond/adapt to global climate changes.
Data sets used for analysisThe data package includes the data used to
create plots and perform analysis of metabolic traits. Each row represents
values of one individual. Legend of abbreviations is available in the
README file.data.7z
Slovenia