Responses of terrestrial polar arthropods to high and increasing temperatures

Terrestrial arthropods in the Arctic and Antarctic are exposed to extreme and variable temperatures, and climate change is predicted to be especially pronounced in these regions. Available studies on insect ecophysiology typically focus on the ability of species to tolerate the extreme low temperatures that can occur in these regions, whereas studies investigating species’ plasticity and the importance of evolutionary adaptation to periodically high and increasing temperatures are limited. Here, we provide an overview of current knowledge on thermal adaptation to high temperatures of terrestrial arthropods in Arctic and Antarctic regions. Firstly, we summarize the literature on heat tolerance for terrestrial arthropods in these regions, and discuss variation in heat tolerance across species, habitats and polar regions. Secondly, we discuss the potential for species to cope with increasing and more variable temperatures through thermal plasticity and evolutionary adaptation. Thirdly, we summarize our current knowledge of the underlying physiological adjustments to heat stress in arthropods from these regions. It is clear that very little data are available on the heat tolerance of arthropods in polar regions, but that large variation in arthropod thermal tolerance exists across polar regions, habitats and species. Further, the species investigated show unique physiological adjustments to heat stress in, for example, being able to respond quickly to increasing or extreme temperatures. To understand the consequences of climate change on terrestrial arthropods in polar regions, we suggest that more studies on the ability of species to cope with stressful high and variable temperatures are needed.

南北极陆生节肢动物面临极端且多变的温度环境，而气候变化在这些区域的表现尤为显著。现有昆虫生理生态学研究多聚焦于物种耐受该区域极端低温的能力，而针对物种可塑性及进化适应周期性高温与升温趋势的重要性的研究仍较为匮乏。本文综述了当前南北极陆生节肢动物高温热适应的相关研究进展。其一，梳理该区域陆生节肢动物耐热性的相关文献，并探讨不同物种、生境及极地间耐热性的差异；其二，探讨物种通过热可塑性与进化适应应对升温及温度波动加剧的潜力；其三，总结当前关于该区域节肢动物应对热胁迫的潜在生理调控机制的研究认知。目前极地节肢动物耐热性相关数据仍十分有限，但不同极地、生境及物种间的节肢动物耐热性存在显著差异。此外，已被研究的物种对热胁迫展现出独特的生理调控策略，例如可快速响应升温或极端高温环境。为明晰气候变化对极地陆生节肢动物的影响，亟需开展更多针对物种应对极端高温与温度波动能力的研究。