Ecological, Physiological, and Biochemical Aspects of Torpor in Mammals and Birds

Wang, Lawrence C.H.

doi:10.1007/978-3-642-74078-7_10

Cited by 136 publications

(84 citation statements)

References 128 publications

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“…To deal with such energetic constraints and to conserve energy, many insectivorous bats employ torpor, which is characterised by pronounced reductions in T b , metabolic rate (MR) and water loss (Hock, 1951). Moreover, the use of torpor is often initiated by a decrease in food availability and/or T a (Wang, 1989), suggesting that it would be beneficial for insectivorous bats to be flexible in their use of torpor to suit current seasonal and daily weather conditions and therefore insect abundance.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seasonality of torpor patterns and physiological variables of a free-ranging subtropical bat

Stawski

Geiser

2010

Journal of Experimental Biology

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SUMMARYSeasonal changes in weather and food availability differ vastly between temperate and subtropical climates, yet knowledge on how free-ranging subtropical insectivorous bats cope with such changes is limited. We quantified ambient temperatures, torpor patterns and thermal physiology of subtropical insectivorous northern long-eared bats, Nyctophilus bifax, during summer (n13) and winter (n8) by temperature telemetry. As predicted, ambient conditions varied significantly between seasons, with warmer weather during summer. All bats used torpor on 85% of observation days during summer in comparison to 100% during winter. During summer, patterns of torpor varied and the duration of torpor bouts was not significantly affected by ambient temperature, whereas during winter torpor bout duration was negatively correlated with mean ambient temperature. Mean torpor bout duration in summer was 3.2±1.3h and in winter was 26.8±11.3h. Mean arousal time during summer was in the early afternoon and during winter in the late afternoon, and throughout both seasons arousals for possible foraging periods occurred near sunset. Skin temperature was positively correlated with ambient temperatures in both seasons, but the relationship differed between seasons. We show that torpor is used regularly throughout the year in a free-ranging subtropical bat and provide the first evidence demonstrating that torpor patterns and thermal physiology change with season.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seasonality of torpor patterns and physiological variables of a free-ranging subtropical bat

Stawski

Geiser

2010

Journal of Experimental Biology

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“…Mammals utilise torpor to maximise energy conservation during periods of cold stress or shortage of food and water (GAERTNER et al 1973, HUDSON 1978, WANG 1989, RUF et al 1991. Both deep hibernation and shallow daily torpor result in significant energy savings (RuF et al 1991).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Some eutherian mammals exhibit torpor in response to cold stress and/or shortage of food and water (WANG 1989). Northern temperate dormice show distinct patterns of torpor and hibernation; activity is confined to spring and summer with hibernation occurring throughout the winter (NEVO & AMIR 1964, WALHOVD 1976.…”

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confidence: 99%

Thermoregulation and patterns of torpor in the spectacled dormouse,Graphiurus ocularis(A. Smith 1829) (Gliridae)

Ridgard

Perrin

1999

Tropical Zoology

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Oxygen consumption (Vo 2 ), thermal conductance (Cmin), body temperature (Tb) and evaporative water loss (EWL) of the spectacled dormouse Graphiurus ocularis (A. Smith 1829) were measured at ambient temperatures (T.) between 5 and 35 °C. G. ocularis is not well adapted to high T.s and above T. = 30 oc there was a significant increase in Cmin and EWL. An elevated Tb above the lower critical limit of thermoneutrality (T 1 c) was recorded before more energetically expensive cooling mechanisms were employed. The basal metabolic rate (BMR) and Cmin were lower than expected relative to body mass. It is hypothesised that the interplay of lower-than-expected BMR and Cmin is an adaptation to scarce and unpredictable food resources. G. ocularis exhibited patterns of torpor intermediate between those of subtropical and temperate dormice.

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“…Torpor evolved in animals inhabiting high latitudes, mainly as a response to the cold temperatures present during the autumn and winter seasons (Hainsworth and Wolf, 1970;Wang, 1988Wang, , 1989. Nevertheless, this mechanism is also present in birds and mammals that are endemic to tropical regions (e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of diet quality and ambient temperature on the use of torpor by two species of neotropical nectar-feeding bats

Ayala-Berdon

Vázquez-Fuerte

Beamonte‐Barrientos

et al. 2017

Journal of Experimental Biology

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Neotropical bats use torpor as a strategy to save energy when they experience a low energy intake and/or low ambient temperature (T a ). Digestive physiology limits the energy intake of several glossophaginid bats, and could play an important role in the onset of torpor in these tropical animals. We measured the effect that diet quality and T a had on the use of torpor by the nectar-feeding bats Glossophaga soricina and Leptonycteris yerbabuenae. Captive bats were fed with 5% (low) or 35% (high) sucrose solutions while exposed to two different T a (17.7 and 23.2°C; low T a and high T a ) in four different treatments: (1) high sucrose:high T a , (2) high sucrose:low T a , (3) low sucrose:high T a and (4) low sucrose:low T a . We measured their energy intake, changes in body mass (ΔM b ) and skin temperature (T skin ) as response variables. Energy intake (in 10 h) was limited when both species fed on 5% sucrose, but body mass gain was only affected in G. soricina. Energy intake and T a had a negative effect on the minimum T skin of both species, and ΔM b affected the time that G. soricina used torpor. Both species remained normothermic on the high sucrose:high T a treatment, but used torpor on the other three treatments. Bats used torpor during their resting and activity periods. Leptonycteris yerbabuenae spent more time in torpor in the low sucrose:high T a treatment, while G. soricina used this strategy for longer periods of time in the high sucrose:low T a treatment. We found that diet quality and T a played an important role in the use of torpor by nectar-feeding bats.

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Ecological, Physiological, and Biochemical Aspects of Torpor in Mammals and Birds

Cited by 136 publications

References 128 publications

Seasonality of torpor patterns and physiological variables of a free-ranging subtropical bat

Seasonality of torpor patterns and physiological variables of a free-ranging subtropical bat

Thermoregulation and patterns of torpor in the spectacled dormouse,Graphiurus ocularis(A. Smith 1829) (Gliridae)

Effect of diet quality and ambient temperature on the use of torpor by two species of neotropical nectar-feeding bats

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