Data from: Latitudinal embryonic thermal tolerance and plasticity shape the vulnerability of oviparous species to climate change
Data files
Mar 28, 2021 version files 792.21 KB
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1._natural_nest.xlsx
59.58 KB
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2._days_laid_eggs_from_transferred.xlsx
13.36 KB
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3._EAHT.xlsx
31.41 KB
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4._heat_stress.xlsx
664.81 KB
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5._information_in_SDM.xlsx
13.28 KB
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read_me_for_dataset.txt
9.77 KB
Abstract
Heat tolerance at the immobile embryonic stage is expected to be critical in determining species vulnerability to climate change. However, how the mean and developmental plasticity of embryonic heat tolerance vary geographically, and how these geographic variations affect species’ vulnerability under climate change remain unknown. We experimentally determined the mean and developmental plasticity of embryonic acute heat tolerance (EAHT, i.e., heat shock temperature at which embryonic heartbeats ceased) for three latitudinally-distributed populations of an oviparous lacertid lizard. The experimental results suggested that the mean EAHT decreased with decreasing latitude and that the reaction norms of EAHT in relation to developmental temperatures showed ‘flat’, ‘bell-shaped’, and ‘decreasing’ patterns at high, medium, and low latitudes, respectively. Based on the means and plasticity of EAHT and weather data across China, we project that the heat stress frequency would increase from present to the future and increase towards low latitudes. Furthermore, heat stress becomes more extensive with the incorporation of developmental plasticity. Incorporating the mean EAHT during the embryonic development season, heat stress frequency, and climate variables in a species distribution model projects that suitable habitats could move northward in response to ongoing climate change and shrink due to the loss of southern habitat. Moreover, even lizards within the areas that are predicted to remain highly suitable are expected to experience increases in heat stress over time, particularly at medium and low latitudes. Our study reveals geographic variation in the mean and developmental plasticity of EAHT and highlights its importance for predicting species vulnerability and range shifts in response to climate change.
Methods
Air temperatures are collected by iButton hourly;
Heat tolerance are collected by Egg buddy and thermal couple synchronously;
Egg incubation were conducted at 24℃, 26℃, 28℃, 30℃, 32℃;
Heat stress frequency were calculated by soil temperatures and EAHT, with the code of heat stress we developed in R.
Others see details in materials and methods in the paper
Usage notes
The dataset contains five excel files and two codes in R.
The details for method and analysis are provided in the main text of the paper.
The description for each item in excels are provided separately in each sheet of file, or you can see details in readme file.