Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
developed the hypothesis that the primary climatic variables responsible
for global-scale gradients in diversity and ranges of ectotherms are tem-
perature and temperature variability. Respiratory energy metabolism is
the primary physiological variable that defines adaptations of ectotherms
to temperature. Therefore, adaptations to latitudinal and altitudinal gra-
dients of temperature and temperature variability lead to corresponding
gradients in properties of energy metabolism, which give rise to gradients
in species diversity and ranges.
