Summer torpor in African woodland dormiceGraphiurus murinus (Myoxidae: Graphiurinae) |
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Authors: | P I Webb J D Skinner |
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Institution: | (1) Mammal Research Institute, University of Pretoria, 0002 Pretoria, South Africa;(2) Present address: Department of Zoology, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand |
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Abstract: | We determined the effect of food availability (presence/absence) and ambient temperature (25/10°C) on daily energy expenditure
and the use of activity and torpor in summer-acclimated captiveGraphiurus murinus. Daily energy expenditure declined logarithmically with duration of food deprivation at a mean rate of 11 and 31% per day
at 25 and 10°C, respectively. The incidence of torpor in the presence of food at 25°C was low (one in seven individuals) and
increased on a single day's exposure to 10°C and with duration of food deprivation. Use of torpor was highest during the day,
varied between individuals, and torpor bouts of greater than 24h duration were not noted. With food deprivation, individuals
at 25°C initially responded by reducing activity but remained euthermic while the same individuals at 10°C responded by increasing
their use of torpor during the light period; this difference in response probably reflects a difference in the relative energetic
benefits of torpor at different temperatures. |
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Keywords: | Torpor Daily energy expenditure Food deprivation African dormice Graphiurus |
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