Data from: Thermal physiology: a new dimension of the pace-of-life syndrome

1) Current syndrome research focuses primarily on behavior with few incorporating components of physiology. One such syndrome is the Pace-of-Life Syndrome (POLS) which describes covariation between behaviour, metabolism immunity, hormonal response, and life history traits. Despite the strong effect temperature has on behavior, thermal physiology has yet to be considered within this syndrome framework. 2) We proposed the POLS to be extended to include a new dimension, the cold-hot axis. Under this premise, it is predicted that thermal physiology and behavior would covary whereby individual positioning along the thermal continuum would coincide with that of the behavioral continuum. 3) This hypothesis was tested by measuring thermal traits of delicate skinks (Lampropholis delicata) and linking it to their behavior. Principal components analysis and structural equation modelling were used to determine if traits were structured within the Pace-of-Life Syndrome (POLS) and to characterize the direction of their interactions. 4) Model results supported the inclusion of the cold-hot axis into the POLS and indicated that thermal physiology was the driver of this relationship, in that thermal traits either constrained or promoted activity, exploration, boldness, and social behavior. 5) This study highlights the need to integrate thermal physiology within a syndrome framework.

1) 当前综合征研究多聚焦于行为维度，仅有少数研究纳入生理学相关组分。其中一类综合征为生命速率综合征（Pace-of-Life Syndrome, POLS），其描述了行为、代谢、免疫、激素响应以及生活史性状之间的协变关系。尽管温度对行为存在显著影响，但热生理学尚未被纳入该综合征的研究框架中。2) 我们提出将生命速率综合征（POLS）拓展至包含冷热轴这一新维度。基于该研究前提，可预测热生理学与行为之间存在协变关系，即个体在热连续体上的位置与其在行为连续体上的定位相契合。3) 本研究通过测定柔弱石龙子（Lampropholis delicata）的热性状并将其与行为表现相联系，对该假说开展检验。研究采用主成分分析与结构方程模型，以明确各类性状是否按生命速率综合征（POLS）的框架进行结构化，并表征其相互作用的方向。4) 模型结果支持将冷热轴纳入生命速率综合征（POLS）的研究框架，同时表明热生理学是该关系的驱动因素：热性状既可以约束也可以促进个体的活动、探索、勇敢性以及社交行为。5) 本研究强调了将热生理学整合进综合征研究框架的必要性。