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Influences of Ambient Temperature on Ground Squirrel Activity
Author(s) -
Kavanau J. Lee,
Rischer Carl E.
Publication year - 1972
Publication title -
ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.144
H-Index - 294
eISSN - 1939-9170
pISSN - 0012-9658
DOI - 10.2307/1935723
Subject(s) - thermoregulation , degree (music) , enclosure , wheel running , ecology , operative temperature , environmental science , biology , zoology , meteorology , thermal , geography , computer science , physics , telecommunications , acoustics , endocrinology
Detailed observations of the locomotor activities of antelope ground squirrels reveal what may be an important avenue for thermoregulation. Four squirrels in an indoor enclosure were exposed to temperature cycles of various amplitudes with upper limits from 28° to 37°C. By monitoring properties of the volitional running performance in an activity wheel, sensitive behavioral responses to the temperature changes were detected. The time spent running, the average duration of running bouts, and the speed of running were affected–the first two properties to a much greater extent than the third. In one test the time decreased over 11% per degree rise; in another the length of the running bouts decreased over 8% per degree rise. These behavioral responses are interpreted along thermoregulatory lines. The responses were undetected in previous studies, for the animals either were unable to run or were forced to run continuously at fixed speeds. Since one can determine both behavioral and physiological responses of animals running voliationally, and many mammals will run wheels, this technique has promise for comparative studies for thermoregulation.