Disentangling thermal from alternative drivers of reflectance in jewel beetles: A macroecological study

Aim To predict future colour–climate relationships, it is important to distinguish thermal drivers of reflectance from other evolutionary drivers. We aimed achieve this by comparing relationships between climate and coloration in ultraviolet–visible (UV–Vis) near-infrared (NIR) light, separately. Location Samples were distributed primarily across Australia North America, with some Africa Asia. Major taxa studied Coleoptera: Buprestidae. Methods used jewel beetles as models identify climatic reflectance, because have highly diverse a wide distribution are often active hot conditions. Specifically, we tested the association climate, body size using phylogenetic comparative analysis for three wavebands (UV–Vis, NIR total). Results Reflectance was more strongly predicted than climate. total not associated but larger had higher reflectance. For UV–Vis small darker warmer humid environments, whereas there no large beetles. Main conclusions Our study suggests that variation driven requirements highlights importance considering when evaluating explanations effects colour on thermoregulation.