Data from: Thermal sensitivity of a neotropical amphibian (Engystomops pustulosus) and its vulnerability to climate change

A species’ thermal sensitivity and its exposure to climate
variation are key components in the prediction of its vulnerability to climate change. We tested the thermal sensitivity of a tropical amphibian that lives in a mild constant climate in which the thermal tolerance range is expected to closely match the experienced environmental temperature. The air temperature that this species is exposed to varies between 21.9-31.6ºC
with an annual mean of 27.2ºC. We estimated the microhabitat water temperature variation under vegetation shade, which buffers the temperature by 1.8ºC in relation to that of the air, and with open canopy, where the water was 1.9ºC warmer than the air temperature. With broods of tadpoles split into five treatments (15ºC, 21ºC, 28ºC, 31ºC, and 33ºC) we estimated the critical thermal maximum (CTMax) and critical thermal minimum
(CTMin) after at least 7 days of acclimation. Both CTMax (42.3ºC) and CTMin (11.8ºC) were more extreme than the temperature range estimated for the field. We estimated the optimum temperature (To = 28.8ºC) and the thermal performance breadth (range: 23.3-34.1ºC) based on growth rate (g/day). The animals were able to acclimate more extensively to cold than to warm temperatures. These performance curve traits closely matched the air temperature. The estimated vulnerability varied according to the microhabitat prediction model used. The combination of tadpole data on thermal sensitivity and macro- microhabitat variation provides a necessary framework to
understand the effects of climate change on tropical amphibians.