Dr Krista McLennan

BSc(Hons), MSc, PhD, MRSB, SFHEA, PGCTHLE; Head of School for Natural Sciences and Senior lecturer in Animal Behaviour and Welfare

Too Hot to Think


November 06, 2024

 
We are all aware of the significant affects’ climate change is having on not only our own lives but that of animals. But have you ever noticed that high temperatures can affect your ability to think? Dr. Camilla Soravia’s, a postdoctoral researcher at Chester University presented the first seminar in our series for 2024-2025 academic year, and so I took the opportunity to use this for my second blog post. 
 
Dr Soravia’s research showed how extreme heat impacts the cognitive performance in the southern pied babbler, a cooperatively breeding passerine from the semi-arid Kalahari region in southern Africa. Using association and reverse learning trials, Dr Soravia and her fellow researchers were able to observe that as air temperature increases, the birds needed significantly more trials to learn an association. The cognitive effects of heat extend beyond learning impairments, affecting impulse control and vigilance against predators. Dr. Soravia’s study found that higher temperatures led to slower and less accurate responses to predators, with birds less alert and responsive during heat waves. Additionally, the birds displayed clear signs of stress—panting, wing-spreading, and elevated glucocorticoid levels—indicating an overwhelmed physiological state. 
 
Dr Soravia also discussed how finches exposed to temperatures around 43°C struggled with associative learning tasks. Buff tailed bumble bees also showed similar struggles; at just 32°C, their ability to recall associations with a sugar reward faded within an hour.  These findings suggest that high temperatures can impair associative learning, foraging efficiency, and predator response, which are critical for survival in the wild. When exposed to heat early in development, the impacts become even more severe, leading to reduced brain sizes and fewer neurons in offspring, as seen in guinea pigs subjected to prenatal heat stress. 
 
With prolonged high temperatures, animals face a decline in body condition and struggle to adapt to environmental cues, heightening their vulnerability. Dr. Soravia warns that cognitive challenges could ultimately lead to local extinctions, as species unable to keep pace with rising temperatures may face severe survival and fitness consequences. This research underscores the urgency of addressing climate impacts across species; as heat continues to rise, the cognitive and survival implications for wildlife, and potentially humans, become a pressing concern. 
 
For more information on Dr Soravia’s work, please see the associated publication here: https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rspb.2023.1077 

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