Critical Limits
Organismal distribution limits and responses to climate change depend on how physiological performance varies as the environment shifts between optimal and extreme conditions.
Temperature determines which organisms will thrive and which will diminish in numbers and size. For each organism there is a thermal death point. Also there is a range of temperature of that produces optimal abundance. Each end of the spectrum is the organisms critical limits.
Temperature determines which organisms will thrive and which will diminish in numbers and size. For each organism there is a thermal death point. Also there is a range of temperature of that produces optimal abundance. Each end of the spectrum is the organisms critical limits.
The image on the right displays hypothetical performance curves of animals. Showing that animals will perform most effectively between a lower and critical limit, with an optimal performance in the middle.
Changes in temperature effect aquatic life. Temperature determines which organisms will thrive and which will diminish in numbers and size. For each organism there is a thermal death point. Also there is a range of temperature of that produces optimal abundance. The effects of temperature upon life of a cold blooded or poikilotherm are profound. Poikilothermic animals, such as fish, are those whose body temperatures follow closely the temperature of their medium.
Changes in temperature effect aquatic life. Temperature determines which organisms will thrive and which will diminish in numbers and size. For each organism there is a thermal death point. Also there is a range of temperature of that produces optimal abundance. The effects of temperature upon life of a cold blooded or poikilotherm are profound. Poikilothermic animals, such as fish, are those whose body temperatures follow closely the temperature of their medium.