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Significance We compared body temperatures (Tb) and the associated thermoregulatory traits of 53 bird species from three climatically distinct areas to test the idea that maximum Tb and hyperthermia tolerance… Click to show full abstract
Significance We compared body temperatures (Tb) and the associated thermoregulatory traits of 53 bird species from three climatically distinct areas to test the idea that maximum Tb and hyperthermia tolerance evolve in response to climate-related thermoregulatory demands and constraints. The notion of adaptive variation in Tb among endothermic animals has gained traction recently, but the potential role of climate as a correlate of interspecific variation in upper Tb limits has received little attention. Our finding that both maximum tolerable Tb and normothermic Tb vary significantly among birds occupying sites that vary in humidity and maximum air temperatures provides insights into avian adaptive thermoregulation.
Journal Title: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Year Published: 2022
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