TY - JOUR
T1 - Shape-shifting
T2 - changing animal morphologies as a response to climatic warming
AU - Ryding, Sara
AU - Klaassen, Marcel
AU - Tattersall, Glenn J.
AU - Gardner, Janet L.
AU - Symonds, Matthew R.E.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 Elsevier Ltd
PY - 2021/11
Y1 - 2021/11
N2 - Many animal appendages, such as avian beaks and mammalian ears, can be used to dissipate excess body heat. Allen's rule, wherein animals in warmer climates have larger appendages to facilitate more efficient heat exchange, reflects this. We find that there is widespread evidence of ‘shape-shifting’ (changes in appendage size) in endotherms in response to climate change and its associated climatic warming. We re-examine studies of morphological change over time within a thermoregulatory context, finding evidence that temperature can be a strong predictor of morphological change independently of, or combined with, other environmental changes. Last, we discuss how Allen's rule, the degree of temperature change, and other ecological factors facilitate morphological change and make predictions about what animals will show shape-shifting.
AB - Many animal appendages, such as avian beaks and mammalian ears, can be used to dissipate excess body heat. Allen's rule, wherein animals in warmer climates have larger appendages to facilitate more efficient heat exchange, reflects this. We find that there is widespread evidence of ‘shape-shifting’ (changes in appendage size) in endotherms in response to climate change and its associated climatic warming. We re-examine studies of morphological change over time within a thermoregulatory context, finding evidence that temperature can be a strong predictor of morphological change independently of, or combined with, other environmental changes. Last, we discuss how Allen's rule, the degree of temperature change, and other ecological factors facilitate morphological change and make predictions about what animals will show shape-shifting.
KW - Allen's rule
KW - appendage size
KW - climate change
KW - morphology
KW - thermoregulation
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85116808523&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.tree.2021.07.006
DO - 10.1016/j.tree.2021.07.006
M3 - Review article
SN - 0169-5347
VL - 36
SP - 1036
EP - 1048
JO - Trends in Ecology and Evolution
JF - Trends in Ecology and Evolution
IS - 11
ER -