Temperatures that sterilize males better match global species distributions than lethal temperatures

Steven R. Parratt (), Benjamin S. Walsh, Soeren Metelmann, Nicola White, Andri Manser, Amanda J. Bretman, Ary A. Hoffmann, Rhonda R. Snook and Tom A. R. Price ()
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Steven R. Parratt: University of Liverpool
Benjamin S. Walsh: University of Liverpool
Soeren Metelmann: University of Liverpool
Nicola White: University of Liverpool
Andri Manser: University of Liverpool
Amanda J. Bretman: University of Leeds
Ary A. Hoffmann: University of Melbourne
Rhonda R. Snook: Stockholm University
Tom A. R. Price: University of Liverpool

Nature Climate Change, 2021, vol. 11, issue 6, 481-484

Abstract: Abstract Attempts to link physiological thermal tolerance to global species distributions have relied on lethal temperature limits, yet many organisms lose fertility at sublethal temperatures. Here we show that, across 43 Drosophila species, global distributions better match male-sterilizing temperatures than lethal temperatures. This suggests that species distributions may be determined by thermal limits to reproduction, not survival, meaning we may be underestimating the impacts of climate change for many organisms.

Date: 2021
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:nat:natcli:v:11:y:2021:i:6:d:10.1038_s41558-021-01047-0

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DOI: 10.1038/s41558-021-01047-0

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