Open AccessBehaviour and body temperature of hibernating common toads Bufo bufo
Author(s) -
Gelder J. J.,
Olders J. H. J.,
Bosch J. W. G.,
Starmans P. W.
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
ecography
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.973
H-Index - 128
eISSN - 1600-0587
pISSN - 0906-7590
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0587.1986.tb01212.x
Subject(s) - hibernation (computing) , toad , bufo , ecology , air temperature , ectotherm , biology , environmental science , atmospheric sciences , geology , state (computer science) , algorithm , computer science
Hibernation behaviour of six common toads Bufo bufo was studied. Transmitters, generating pulses with a temperature dependent repetition rate, implanted in the toad's abdominal cavity, were used to measure the body temperature. Measurements of body temperature and soil temperature at various depths were used to establish the hibernating depth. All toads moved vertically between a few preferred depths and hibernating depth appeared to vary for individual toads. Upward movements mostly were apparent reactions on changes of the soil temperature gradient at the depth of the toad.