The critical thermal maximum: history and critique
Abstract
We reviewed 725 papers published since Cowles and Bogert's paper on thermal tolerance (R.B. Cowles and C.M. Bogert. 1944. Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. 83: 261–296) to create a data base of studies that used critical thermal maximum or lethal-temperature methods. We found data from 388 of these papers to provide a historical and taxonomic review of various methodologies used in measuring tolerance of high temperature. We conducted this literature review of previous studies to (i) describe the history of the study of thermal tolerance and show the chronological trends in the use of lethal temperature and critical thermal maximum methods, (ii) illustrate the diversity of taxa used in thermal-tolerance studies, (iii) summarize the diversity of protocols (i.e., end points, heating rates, acclimations, etc.) used for determining thermal tolerance, (iv) provide physiological reasons why the onset of spasms is more meaningful biologically than the loss of righting response, and (v) discuss the difficulties in using data from studies in which widely divergent methods were used and the importance of obtaining comparative thermal-tolerance data for comparative physiology. The adoption of the onset of spasms as a standard end point would allow for valid comparisons of data from different studies and among taxa, an important consideration for current investigations of comparative physiology that use the comparative phylogenetic method.
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Acclimation temperature is thought to be an important factor influencing thermal tolerance in fishes.
“Acclimation temperature is also thought to be an important factor influencing thermal tolerance in fishes (Lutterschmidt & Hutchison 1997).”
From Thermal tolerance and potential distribution of invasive lionfish (Pterois volitans/miles complex) on the east coast of the United States (2004) · cites this paper as Lutterschmidt & Hutchison 1997
Cites
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Gould, S. J., & Lewontin, R. C. (1979) · Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. Series B. Biological Sciences · doi:10.1098/rspb.1979.0086 · Cited by 7,770 · see citing works
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Global analysis of thermal tolerance and latitude in ectotherms
Sunday, J. M., Bates, A. E., & Dulvy, N. K. (2011) · Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences · doi:10.1098/rspb.2010.1295 · Cited by 1,300 · see citing works
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Critical thermal limits depend on methodological context
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- Authors
- Lutterschmidt, W. I., & Hutchison, V. H.
- Venue
- Canadian Journal of Zoology
- Publisher
- Canadian Science Publishing
- Published
- 1997-10-01
- Volume
- 75
- Issue
- 10
- Pages
- 1561-1574
- ISSN
- 0008-4301 (ISSN-L)
- 1480-3283
- OpenAlex
- W2029966975
- Cited by
- 919
- References
- 2
- Citations by year
- 2026: 43 · 2025: 64 · 2024: 64 · 2023: 60 · 2022: 68 · 2021: 75 · 2020: 85 · 2019: 68 · 2018: 60 · 2017: 43 · 2016: 34 · 2015: 32 · 2014: 33 · 2013: 29 · 2012: 32
- FWCI
- 2.36
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Canadian Journal of Zoology (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- University of Oklahoma
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Ecology › Physiological and biochemical adaptations
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Thermoregulation and physiological responses
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Animal Science and Zoology › Effects of Environmental Stressors on Livestock
- Keywords
- critical thermal maximum, heat tolerance, lethal temperature, righting reflex, comparative physiology, method standardization, heating rate, acclimation, phylogenetic comparative analysis
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