Supplementary material from "Temperature influences inter-individual variability in morphological and physiological traits of Baja California chorus frog tadpoles"

Inter-individual variability is the range of phenotypes within a population, and can shape adaptive responses to environmental change. However, how temperature influences this variability remains unclear despite its importance for predicting population resilience to warming. We tested how rearing temperature (15°C and 22°C) affects both trait means and variability in time to stage, size, oxygen consumption rate (V̇O2), and swim speed in Baja California chorus frog (Pseudacris hypochondriaca) tadpoles. Mean time to stage and morphological traits decreased at 22°C, while mass-specific V̇O2 and swim speed increased. Variance (s2, absolute variation) was lower at 22°C for time to stage and mass, higher for mass-specific V̇O2, and similar for length and swim speed. Coefficient of variation (CV, relative variation) was higher at 22°C for mass, tail length and depth, and mass-specific V̇O2, suggesting reduced canalization. Q10 response ratios for trait means (lnRRQ10), variance (lnVRQ10) and CV (lnCVRQ10) revealed significant temperature sensitivity for means but trait-specific or nonsignificant effects for variance and CV. Thus, temperature effects on variability are trait-specific and variability does not always change with, or in the same direction as, trait means. These phenotypic changes may have ecological consequences that influence physiological performance during subsequent life stages.