Table 4:

Summary of selected previous studies analyzing empirical data on the impact of temperature fluctuations on performance.

Study description and citation	Key results or traits measured (matches general pattern)
Meta-analyses
Meta-analysis of 24 studies on development rate in all taxa28	Fluctuations that went below $T_{\mathit{min}}$ all increased performance; fluctuations that went above $T_{\mathit{opt}}$ reduced performance, with one exception (yes); other studies were highly variable (unclear)
Meta-analysis of 22 studies on egg incubation traits in reptiles57	Fluctuations increased performance at cooler $T_{\mathit{means}}$ and decreased performance at warmer $T_{\mathit{means}}$ (yes); fluctuation size increased effect size
Meta-analysis of 75 studies on all traits in all taxa58	Fluctuations reduced performance at all temperatures, but reduction was greater at warmer temperatures (partial)
Studies in medically important mosquitoes
Larval, adult, and infection traits for rodent malaria in Anopheles stephensi at $T_{\mathit{mean}}$ = 18°C and 24°C37	Parasite development rate (yes), vector competence (yes), larval development rate (yes), larval survival (yes), gonotrophic cycle duration (yes), adult survival (no: fluctuations changed survival curve shape at cool $T_{\mathit{mean}}$ and increased survival at warm $T_{\mathit{mean}}$)
Adult survival and vector competence for dengue virus in Aedes aegypti at $T_{\mathit{mean}}$ = 26°C 35	Adult survival (yes), vector competence (partial: reduced for % infection but no effect for % dissemination)
Larval and adult traits in Aedes aegypti at $T_{\mathit{mean}}$ = 16°C and 35– 37°C61	Larval development rate (yes), larval survival (partial: increased at both $T_{\mathit{means}}$), proportion blood feeding (yes)
Larval traits in Anopheles stephensi at various $T_{\mathit{means}}$36	Larval development rate (yes), larval survival (yes); for survival, larger DTRs increased effect size at $T_{\mathit{mean}}$ = 35°C
Studies in other host-parasite systems
Parasitoid wasps in drosophila hosts at $T_{\mathit{mean}}$ = 20°C31	Parasite development rate (yes), infestation rate (no effect), parasite success (yes)
Snail hosts and schistosome parasites at $T_{\mathit{mean}}$ = 25°C47	Fluctuations up to 2x typical DTR: snail egg production (no effect), snail growth (no effect), and parasite production (no effect).

When relevant, results include whether they match the general pattern of fluctuations improving performance at cooler temperatures and reducing performance at warmer temperatures. $T_{\mathit{mean}}$ = mean temperature, $T_{\mathit{min}}$ = lower thermal limit, $T_{\mathit{opt}}$ = thermal optimum, DTR = diurnal temperature range.