Data from: Thermal adaptation best explains Bergmann's and Allen's rule across ecologically diverse shorebirds ...

• Main Authors: McQueen, Alexandra, Klaassen, Marcel, Tattersall, Glenn, Atkinson, Robyn, Jessop, Roz, Hassell, Chris, Christie, Maureen, Victorian Wader Study Group, VWSG, Australasian Wader Studies Group, AWSG, Symonds, Matthew
• Format: Dataset
• Language: English
• Published: Dryad 2022
• Subjects: FOS Biological sciences; Allen's rule; Bergmann’s rule; bill size; biogeography and macroecology; body size gradients; cline; developmental plasticity; differential migration; Heat stress; thermoregulation; Arctic
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.5061/dryad.xsj3tx9j5; https://datadryad.org/stash/dataset/doi:10.5061/dryad.xsj3tx9j5

Bergmann’s and Allen’s rules state that endotherms should be larger and have shorter appendages in cooler climates. However, the drivers of these rules are not clear. Both rules could be explained by adaptation for improved thermoregulation, including plastic responses to temperature in early life. Non-thermal explanations are also plausible as climate impacts other factors that influence size and shape, including starvation risk, predation risk, and foraging ecology. We assess the potential drivers of Bergmann’s and Allen’s rules in 30 shorebird species using extensive field data (>200,000 observations). We show birds in hot, tropical northern Australia have longer bills and smaller bodies than conspecifics in temperate, southern Australia, conforming with both ecogeographical rules. This pattern is consistent across ecologically diverse species, including migratory birds that spend early life in the Arctic. Our findings best support the hypothesis that thermoregulatory adaptation to warm climates drives ... : Data are available as an excel file. For full details of methods with justifications and analyses please see McQueen et al. (2022) Nature Communications. Please also cite that reference if you use these data. ...