Identifying biologically meaningful hot-weather events using threshold temperatures that affect life-history

PloS One
Susan J CunninghamPhilip A R Hockey

Abstract

Increases in the frequency, duration and intensity of heat waves are frequently evoked in climate change predictions. However, there is no universal definition of a heat wave. Recent, intense hot weather events have caused mass mortalities of birds, bats and even humans, making the definition and prediction of heat wave events that have the potential to impact populations of different species an urgent priority. One possible technique for defining biologically meaningful heat waves is to use threshold temperatures (T(thresh)) above which known fitness costs are incurred by species of interest. We set out to test the utility of this technique using T(thresh) values that, when exceeded, affect aspects of the fitness of two focal southern African bird species: the southern pied babbler Turdiodes bicolor (T(thresh) = 35.5 °C) and the common fiscal Lanius collaris (T(thresh) = 33 °C). We used these T(thresh) values to analyse trends in the frequency, duration and intensity of heat waves of magnitude relevant to the focal species, as well as the annual number of hot days (maximum air temperature > T(thresh)), in north-western South Africa between 1961 and 2010. Using this technique, we were able to show that, while all heat wave indi...Continue Reading

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Citations

Feb 12, 2017·The Science of the Total Environment·Xuping SongKezheng Shang
Aug 2, 2017·The Journal of Experimental Biology·William A TalbotBlair O Wolf
Jun 22, 2018·The Journal of Experimental Biology·William A TalbotBlair O Wolf
Jan 1, 2015·Conservation Physiology·Robyn MilneBen Smit
Jun 27, 2019·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Shannon R ConradieAndrew E McKechnie
Jun 11, 2015·Global Change Biology·Loeske E B KruukAndrew Cockburn
Feb 15, 2017·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Thomas P AlbrightBlair O Wolf
Mar 16, 2021·Ecology and Evolution·Raymond M DannerElizabeth P Derryberry
Jan 29, 2021·The Journal of Experimental Biology·Barry van JaarsveldAndrew E McKechnie

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