Data from: Natural selection on thermal preference, critical thermal maxima and locomotor performance

Climate change is resulting in a radical transformation of the thermal
quality of habitats across the globe. Whereas species have altered their
distributions to cope with changing environments, the evidence for
adaptation in response to rising temperatures is limited. However, to
determine the potential of adaptation in response to thermal variation, we
need estimates of the magnitude and direction of natural selection on
traits that are assumed to increase persistence in warmer environments.
Most inferences regarding physiological adaptation are based on
interspecific analyses, and those of selection on thermal traits are
scarce. Here, we estimate natural selection on major thermal traits used
to assess the vulnerability of ectothermic organisms to altered thermal
niches. We detected significant directional selection favouring lizards
with higher thermal preferences and faster sprint performance at their
optimal temperature. Our analyses also revealed correlational selection
between thermal preference and critical thermal maxima, where individuals
that preferred warmer body temperatures with cooler critical thermal
maxima were favoured by selection. Recent published estimates of
heritability for thermal traits suggest that, in concert with the strong
selective pressures we demonstrate here, evolutionary adaptation may
promote long-term persistence of ectotherms in altered thermal
environments.