The Relationship of Nest Protection and Huddling to Survival of Peromyscus at Low Temperature

Sealander, John A.

doi:10.2307/1931252

Cited by 109 publications

(64 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…This behavioral strategy, augmented by a nearby supply of hoarded nuts, enhanced survival during winter (Merritt et al 2001). The classic work of Sealander (1952) showed that for Peromyscus at low temperatures, individuals at the bottom of a "communal" nest group enjoyed temperatures well above ambient levels, but by continually shifting position, each mouse in the huddle was periodically rewarmed and thus avoided hypothermia. In our experiments, huddling Cryptotis parva at low ambient temperatures demonstrated considerable movement and shifting of position, suggesting that a similar process occurs in this species.…”

Section: Aggregationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Social thermoregulation in least shrews, Cryptotis parva

Merritt

Zegers

2014

Mammalia

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Abstract:Cryptotis parva exhibits a geographic range and ecological requirements unique among North American soricines: it possesses a latitudinal distribution, metabolism and communal nesting pattern more like the crocidurines of the eastern hemisphere. We utilized oxygen consumption (VO 2 ) techniques to examine metabolic shifts and video to document activity patterns and dynamics of solitary and group nesting C. parva. Between ambient temperatures of 4°C and 34°C, solitary C. parva demonstrated an inverse relationship between ambient temperature (T a ) and resting metabolic rate (RMR); thermal neutral zone (TNZ) was very narrow, between a T a of 34°C and 36°C. VO 2 was measured in groups ranging in size from one to eight at T a s of 4°C, 14°C, 24°C and 34°C. The group size had a significant effect on the median RMR and median predicted Kleiber value and was more effective at reducing metabolic cost at a lower T a . In a second experiment designed to assess the effects of huddling group size and incubator T a on the T a of the nest chamber, both had significant effects. Group size had significant effects on the T a of the nest chamber at incubator temperatures of 5°C, 10°C, 15°C and 32°C, but not at 25°C. We found no behavioral or physiologic evidence of heterothermy.

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Section: Aggregationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Social thermoregulation in least shrews, Cryptotis parva

Merritt

Zegers

2014

Mammalia

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“…The magnitude of the decrease was directly proportional to the number of animals in the group. Huddling animals also showed longer survival time when exposed to low T a [11] and [21], and a lower rate of body mass loss and higher T b [22]. Huddling therefore apparently reduces the energetic costs of thermoregulation, thereby decreasing the reliance on non-shivering thermogenesis [9] and [23].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 95%

“…Physiological adaptations used by rodents in the cold include shivering, increased vasoconstriction in the extremities of the appendages, brown fat thermogenesis and daily torpor [8], [9] and [10]. By comparison, huddling, nest building, microclimate selection, postural modifications and changes in locomotory behaviour are among the behavioural changes which facilitate behavioural conservation of heat [11], [12] and [13].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The energetics of huddling in two species of mole-rat (Rodentia: Bathyergidae)

Kotzé

Bennett

Scantlebury

2008

Physiology & Behavior

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Small rodents with a large surface-area-to-volume ratio and a high thermal conductance are likely to experience conditions where they have to expend large amounts of energy in order to maintain a constant body temperature at low ambient temperatures. The survival of small rodents is thus dependent on their ability to reduce heat loss and increase heat production at low ambient temperatures. Two such animals are the social subterranean rodents Cryptomys damarensis (the Damaraland mole-rat) and Cryptomys hottentotus natalensis (the Natal mole-rat). This study examined the energy savings associated with huddling as a behavioural thermoregulatory mechanism to conserve energy in both these species. Individual oxygen consumption (VO 2 ) was measured in groups ranging in size from one to 15 huddling animals for both species at ambient temperatures of 14, 18, 22, 26 and 30 °C. Savings in energy (VO 2 ) were then compared between the two species. Significant differences in VO 2 (p < 0.05) were found within each species, indicating that both Damaraland mole-rats and Natal mole-rats saved more energy in larger as opposed to smaller groups. VO 2 was also different between the two species, with Damaraland mole-rats showing a higher decrease in VO 2 with increasing group size compared to Natal mole-rats. These findings suggest that huddling confers significant energy savings in both species and that the amount of energy saved is related to each species' ecology. More generally, these findings suggest that group living desert-adapted species are likely to be more prone to heat loss at low ambient temperatures than temperate-adapted species, especially at low group sizes. This is presumably offset against the advantages obtained by having a low metabolic rate and avoiding hyperthermia when temperatures are hot.

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“…Several factors facilitate the tendency to aggregate under winter conditions, the most important are: reproductive cessation, reduced aggression, clumped food resources, and low ambient temperatures. One o f the m ost relevant behavioral adaptations that increase winter survival is probably huddling (Sealander 1952). Huddling is effective in decreasing metabolic heat production and maintenance cost (Górecki 1968, G^bczyñski 1969, G^bczyñ-ska 1970, G^bczyñska and G^bczyñski 1971, Tertil 1972, Andrews and Belknap 1986, B ozinovic et al 1988, in creasin g energy saving and hence survival (Sealander 1952, Fedyk 1971).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Geometrical aspects of the energetic effectivenes of huddling in small mammals

Canals

Rosenmann²,

Bozinovic³

1997

Acta Theriol.

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Canals M., Rosenmann M. and Bozinovic F. 1997. Geometrical aspects o f the energetic effectiveness of huddling in small mammals. Acta Theriologica 42: 321-328.Reduced energy expenditure resulting from huddling in small mammals is mainly attributed to the reduced surface area/volume ratio of the huddling group. Here we propose a model to account for the reduction of the relative exposed area of grouped animals and for the diminution of metabolic rate during huddling. We attempt to explain mechanistically how changes in energy savings may operate. We applied our model to results obtained by grouping deformable bodies, and also laboratory meas urements o f oxygen consumption on huddling small mammals of four species. We found a small amount of diversity in the energetic efficiency of huddling. We estimate that the average relative area lost during huddling ranged between 28.7 and 39.1%. The average huddling effectiveness in the studied species was 42%, which is a significant fraction of the energy/matter budget of a small mammal, especially under winter conditions.

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The Relationship of Nest Protection and Huddling to Survival of Peromyscus at Low Temperature

Cited by 109 publications

References 20 publications

Social thermoregulation in least shrews, Cryptotis parva

Social thermoregulation in least shrews, Cryptotis parva

The energetics of huddling in two species of mole-rat (Rodentia: Bathyergidae)

Geometrical aspects of the energetic effectivenes of huddling in small mammals

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