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Thermal physiology: A new dimension of the pace‐of‐life syndrome
Author(s) -
Goulet Celine T.,
Thompson Mike B.,
Michelangeli Marcus,
Wong Bob B. M.,
Chapple David G.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
journal of animal ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.134
H-Index - 157
eISSN - 1365-2656
pISSN - 0021-8790
DOI - 10.1111/1365-2656.12718
Subject(s) - boldness , structural equation modeling , life history theory , biology , ectotherm , ecology , physiology , psychology , life history , social psychology , mathematics , statistics , personality
Current syndrome research focuses primarily on behaviour with few incorporating components of physiology. One such syndrome is the pace‐of‐life syndrome ( POLS ) which describes covariation between behaviour, metabolism, immunity, hormonal response, and life‐history traits. Despite the strong effect temperature has on behaviour, thermal physiology has yet to be considered within this syndrome framework. We proposed the POLS to be extended to include a new dimension, the cold–hot axis. Under this premise, it is predicted that thermal physiology and behaviour would covary, whereby individual positioning along the thermal continuum would coincide with that of the behavioural continuum. This hypothesis was tested by measuring thermal traits of delicate skinks ( L ampropholis delicata ) and linking it to their behaviour. Principal components analysis and structural equation modelling were used to determine if traits were structured within the POLS and to characterize the direction of their interactions. Model results supported the inclusion of the cold–hot axis into the POLS and indicated that thermal physiology was the driver of this relationship, in that thermal traits either constrained or promoted activity, exploration, boldness and social behaviour. This study highlights the need to integrate thermal physiology within a syndrome framework.