Fig. 5: A conceptual framework depicting temperature-driven trade-offs.

Warm temperature reduces the intestinal absorption area, increases intestinal permeability, and drives the metabolic state shift from fatty acid oxidation to glycolysis. The metabolic state adapted to warm temperature drives more oxidative stress, resulting in immune activation and the requirement for antioxidation, which weakens the energetic investment for growth and sexual development. The ROS, cholesterol metabolites (e.g., bile acids and steroids), and secreted proteins (e.g., IGF family) serve as molecular signals mediating inter-organ communication to orchestrate the adaptive trade-off strategy.