Biology subjects

Pottier, P.

Publications and source records attributed to Pottier, P..

4 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2026

A flexible modelling framework for estimating thermal tolerance and sensitivity

Extreme heat events are becoming more frequent, intense and prolonged, making it urgent to predict how heat intensity and exposure duration combine to threaten organisms. Thermal death time (TDT) and thermal load sensitivity (TLS) models provide this link, but conventional two-stage analyses often discard uncertainty, mishandle censored or overdispersed data and limit inference. Here, we show how the four-parameter log-logistic model can recover TDT/TLS quantities, including thermal tolerance (CTmax), sensitivity (z), critical temperature (Tcrit), heat injury and survival, from one model. Simulations show the joint model reproduces classical estimates when two-stage assumptions hold and is more reliable when they fail. We introduce these workflows as Bayesian and frequentist R packages. Case studies across plant and animal taxa demonstrate this modelling framework can estimate group contrasts and predict survival from realistic field temperature-time series. This framework provides more robust inference and flexible tools for predicting organismal responses to extreme heat events.

ecology↗

bioRxiv2026

Extreme Heat as the New Normal: A Methodological Roadmap for Behavior, Physiology, and Species Distributions

A defining feature of climate change is the increasing frequency, intensity, and severity of extreme weather events. Among them, extreme heat is recognized as a critical driver of ecological and evolutionary change. Intense heat episodes can exceed physiological limits, alter animal movement, restructure geographic ranges, and increase extinction risk more than gradual changes to mean temperatures. Yet links between extreme heat events and organismal biology remain limited, in part because definitions and metrics are not standardized, and user-friendly workflows and guides are lacking for many biologists. We present a methodological roadmap, with reproducible code, for integrating extreme heat into studies of behavior, physiology, biophysical ecology, species distribution models (SDMs), and population dynamics. First, we provide standardized computational approaches to define and quantify extreme heat. Second, we fit species distribution models for California quail (Callipepla californica) that include an extreme heat metric and showcase improved predictions of habitat suitability, particularly at range edges. Third, we compute biophysical simulations to quantify exposure to thermal stress in Sleepy lizards (Tiliqua rugosa) across distinct macro- and microclimates. Finally, accounting for temporal autocorrelation in temperature profiles in population simulation models, we show that clustered heat extremes--missed by averages--can increase the risk of population collapse. As extreme heat events become more common, incorporating their dynamics is essential for understanding ecological and evolutionary change, designing experiments across species geographic ranges, and supporting conservation in a rapidly warming world. Together, these case studies illustrate a reproducible, organism-informed roadmap to integrate extreme heat into predictions of ecological impacts and inference across levels of biological organization under ongoing climate change.

ecology↗

bioRxiv2023

Keywords to success: a practical guide to maximise the visibility and impact of academic papers

In a growing digital landscape, enhancing the discoverability and resonance of scientific articles is essential. Here, we offer ten recommendations to amplify the discoverability of studies in scientific databases. Particularly, we argue that the strategic use and placement of key terms in the title, abstract, and keyword sections can boost indexing and appeal. By surveying 237 journals in ecology and evolutionary biology, we found that current author guidelines may unintentionally limit article discoverability. Our survey of 5842 studies revealed that authors frequently exhaust abstract word limits -- particularly those capped under 250 words. This suggests that current guidelines may be overly restrictive and not optimised to increase the dissemination and discoverability of digital publications. Additionally, 91.9% of studies used redundant keywords in the title or abstract, undermining optimal indexing in databases. We encourage adopting structured abstracts to maximise the incorporation of key terms in titles, abstracts, and keywords. In addition, we encourage the relaxation of abstract and keyword limitations in journals with strict guidelines, and the inclusion of multilingual abstracts to broaden global accessibility. These evidence-based recommendations to editors are designed to improve article engagement and facilitate evidence synthesis, thereby aligning scientific publishing with the modern needs of academic research.

scientific communication and education↗

bioRxiv2018

Digital ischemia: Etiologies and long-term follow up. A cohort study of 323 patients

Introduction Introduction Material and Methods Results Discussion Conclusion References Upper extremity digital ischemia (UEDI) is a persistent peripheral vascular disease. Diagnosis remains a real challenge to identify and consequently evaluation of etiologies and determination of therapeutic strategies has proved difficult. The incidence of UEDI is about 2 cases per 100,000 persons per year (1,2) with symptomatic ischemia of the upper extremity being encountered less frequently than lower extremity vascular insufficiency.\n\n\n\nThe main causes generally identified in literature are cardiac or arterial embolism, local thrombosis, systemic autoimmune connective tissue diseases (especially systemic sclerosis), vasculitis or traumatic injury (3).\n\nPast lite ...

pathology↗