Hibernation in the tropics: lessons from a primate |
| |
Authors: | Email author" target="_blank">Kathrin?H?DausmannEmail author Julian?Glos J?rg?U?Ganzhorn Gerhard?Heldmaier |
| |
Institution: | (1) Department of Animal Physiology, Institute of Biology, Philipps-University, Karl-von-Frisch-Str. 8, 35043 Marburg, Germany;(2) Department of Animal Ecology and Tropical Biology, Julius-Maximilians-University, 97074 Würzburg, Germany;(3) Department of Animal Ecology and Conservation, University of Hamburg, 20146 Hamburg, Germany |
| |
Abstract: | The Malagasy primate Cheirogaleus medius hibernates in tree holes for 7 months, although ambient temperatures during hibernation rise above 30°C in their natural environment. In a field study we show that during hibernation the body temperature of most lemurs fluctuates between about 10°C and 30°C, closely tracking the diurnal fluctuations of ambient temperature passively. These lemurs do not interrupt hibernation by spontaneous arousals, previously thought to be obligatory for all mammalian hibernators. However, some lemurs hibernate in large trees, which provide better thermal insulation. Their body temperature fluctuates only little around 25°C, but they show regular arousals, as known from temperate and arctic hibernators. The results from this study demonstrate that maximum body temperature is a key factor necessitating the occurrence of arousals. Furthermore, we show that hibernation is not necessarily coupled to low body temperature and, therefore, low body temperature should no longer be included in the definition of hibernation. |
| |
Keywords: | Hibernation Tropics Body temperature Periodic arousals Cheirogaleus medius |
本文献已被 PubMed SpringerLink 等数据库收录! |
|