Data from: Habitat, latitude, and body mass influence the temperature dependence of metabolic rate

The sensitivity of metabolic rate to temperature constrains the climate in which ectotherms can function, yet the temperature dependence of metabolic rate may evolve in response to biotic and abiotic factors. We compiled a dataset on the temperature dependence of metabolic rate for heterotrophic ectotherms from studies that show a peak in metabolic rate at an optimal temperature (i.e., that describe the thermal performance curve for metabolic rate). We found that peak metabolic rates were lower in aquatic than terrestrial habitats and increased with body mass, latitude, and the optimal temperature. In addition, the optimal temperature decreased with latitude. These results support competing hypotheses about metabolic rate adaptation, with hotter being better in the tropics but colder being better toward the poles. Moreover, our results suggest that the temperature dependence of metabolic rate is more complex than previously suggested.

代谢率（metabolic rate）对温度的敏感性会制约变温动物（ectotherms）能够维持生理功能的气候范围，然而代谢率的温度依赖性可响应生物与非生物因素发生演化。我们从那些揭示代谢率在最适温度下存在峰值（即描述代谢率热性能曲线（thermal performance curve））的研究中，汇编得到了异养型变温动物代谢率温度依赖性的数据集。研究发现，水生生境中的代谢率峰值低于陆生生境，且峰值随体重、纬度以及最适温度升高而增加。此外，最适温度随纬度升高而降低。这些结果支持关于代谢率适应性的两类对立假说：热带地区温度越高越有利，而向极地方向则温度越低越有利。此外，我们的研究结果表明，代谢率的温度依赖性比此前研究所认为的更为复杂。