How does nutrition influence the ability of ectotherms to adapt to changing temperatures? This review delves into the intersection between animal nutrition and temperature, exploring how diet impacts the thermal performance of ectothermic organisms in a rapidly changing environment. With temperature being a key factor governing ectotherm ecology, the ability to adjust through nutrition is vital for survival.\ The review takes a mechanistic approach to describe how various nutrients, including macronutrients, specific lipids, and micronutrients, may affect thermal performance. It discusses their roles in ectotherm thermal plasticity, thermoregulatory behavior, diet preference, and thermal tolerance, offering a comprehensive perspective on the interplay between nutrition and thermal adaptation.\ By examining the influence of diet on thermal performance, this review informs ectotherm biogeography, behavior, and aquaculture research. Understanding how ectotherms can improve their performance through diet provides valuable insights for conservation efforts and sustainable aquaculture practices in the face of climate change.
As a review in Biological Reviews, this paper aims to synthesize existing knowledge on a specific topic within biology. The focus on diet effects on ectotherm thermal performance aligns with the journal's broad scope of biological research and reviews.