Display options
Cite
Clusella-Trullas S, Garcia RA, Terblanche JS, et al. How useful are thermal vulnerability indices?. Trends Ecol Evol. 2021;36(11):1000-1010doi: 10.1016/j.tree.2021.07.001.
Clusella-Trullas, S., Garcia, R. A., Terblanche, J. S., & Hoffmann, A. A. (2021). How useful are thermal vulnerability indices?. Trends in ecology & evolution, 36(11), 1000-1010. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tree.2021.07.001
Clusella-Trullas, Susana, et al. "How useful are thermal vulnerability indices?." Trends in ecology & evolution vol. 36,11 (2021): 1000-1010. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tree.2021.07.001
Clusella-Trullas S, Garcia RA, Terblanche JS, Hoffmann AA. How useful are thermal vulnerability indices?. Trends Ecol Evol. 2021 Nov;36(11):1000-1010. doi: 10.1016/j.tree.2021.07.001. Epub 2021 Aug 09. PMID: 34384645.
Copy Download .nbib Format: NLM
Share it on

Trends Ecol Evol. 2021 Nov;36(11):1000-1010. doi: 10.1016/j.tree.2021.07.001. Epub 2021 Aug 09.

How useful are thermal vulnerability indices?.

Trends in ecology & evolution

Susana Clusella-Trullas, Raquel A Garcia, John S Terblanche, Ary A Hoffmann

Affiliations

  1. Department of Botany & Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa. Electronic address: [email protected].
  2. Department of Botany & Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa.
  3. Department of Conservation Ecology & Entomology, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa.
  4. School of BioSciences, Bio21 Institute, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.

PMID: 34384645 DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2021.07.001

Abstract

To forecast climate change impacts across habitats or taxa, thermal vulnerability indices (e.g., safety margins and warming tolerances) are growing in popularity. Here, we present their history, context, formulation, and current applications. We highlight discrepancies in terminology and usage, and we draw attention to key assumptions underpinning the main indices and to their ecological and evolutionary relevance. In the process, we flag biases influencing these indices that are not always evaluated. These biases affect both components of index formulations, namely: (i) the characterisation of the thermal environment; and (ii) an organism's physiological and behavioural responses to more frequent and severe warming. Presently, many outstanding questions weaken a thermal vulnerability index approach. We describe ways to validate vulnerability index applications and outline issues to be considered in further developing these indices.

Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Keywords: anthropogenic threat; climate stress resistance; critical thermal limits; environmental niche; extinction risk; operative temperature

Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of interests None declared by authors.

Publication Types