Journal of Animal Ecology

2024-01-09 @ 12.49.58 ∈ In English

(The Catalan populations rely on postural thermoregulation, if I’m reading the study correctly.)

Study finds Spanish butterflies are better at regulating their body temperature than their British cousins

Butterflies in both countries switch from heat-seeking to heat-avoiding behavior once air temperatures reach approximately 22°C. [British populations depend] more on microclimates for thermoregulation than Catalan populations.

2023-08-14 @ 19.17.58 ∈ In English

Urban great tits have paler plumage than their forest-living relatives

The distinctive yellow color in the great tit's feathers comes from pigments called carotenoids which are found in food sources. The great tits get these nutrients from the insects they eat, who, in turn get carotenoids from the plants they feed on. This new research suggests that urban great tits are not able to consume as many carotenoids from their food as their countryside counterparts, and possibly fewer than they might need to stay as healthy.

2023-07-13 @ 14.50.32 ∈ In English

Small-winged and lighter colored butterflies likely to be at greatest threat from climate change

Butterflies from the Lycaenidae family which have small, bright, and often iridescent, wings had the poorest thermal buffering and low thermal tolerance. […] A trade-off in terms of butterflies' cooling strategies was observed: those that were good at thermal buffering were less good at thermal tolerance and vice versa.

2023-04-19 @ 17.55.05 ∈ In English

Study shows bird feeding helps small birds fight infection

When the birds were exposed to a simulated infection, all the birds had essentially the same temperature during a fever. Instead of conserving energy to survive the winter, the birds without access to extra food were forced to use more energy in order to raise their body temperature high enough to battle infection.