Data from: Predicting heat mortality in freshwater communities: temperature and oxygen effects

Freshwater organisms face a dual challenge in warming waters due to
increased metabolic demands and declining oxygen levels. However, the
relationship between temperature, oxygen, and heat-induced mortality in
natural systems remains poorly understood. Here, we combine heat tolerance
measurements in the laboratory with high-resolution water temperature and
oxygen records in the field to predict mortality of different species
under natural conditions. We demonstrate this approach in three species,
one crab and two fish, of the Mapocho River in central Chile, and
validated predictions with a capture-recapture experiment under natural
settings. Our work unequivocally shows that current water temperatures can
trigger mortality in some areas of the river and provides a robust
approach to predict when heat-induced mortality is likely to occur. This
approach offers a valuable tool for evaluating water quality and when
river conditions may be stressful or restrictive for monitoring purposes,
and to design possible mitigation strategies.