During hibernation animals oscillate from near ambient (T a ) to euthermic body temperatures (T b ). As animals arouse, the rate of rewarming (RRW) might be expected to simply increase as a function of time. We monitored the T b of golden-mantled ground squirrels (Spermophilus lateralis) housed at 4, 8, 12, and 16° C during natural arousals. The maximum RRW, the time required to reach a maximum RRW, and the relative time index all demonstrated negative relationships with T a . The T b corresponding to maximal RRW demonstrated a positive relationship with T a . Squirrels reached maximal RRW when they had generated 30 to 40% of the heat required to reach a euthermic T b . These data suggest that arousal is more constrained than expected and that both time and temperature influence the RRW.
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