Thermal radiation exchange, convection and the storage of latent heat in animal coats

McArthur, A.J.

doi:10.1016/0168-1923(91)90050-z

Cited by 15 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…We defined snowpack presence as SWE ≥ 30 mm because snow depths >20 cm provide insulation for pikas (Danby and Hik 2007) and our threshold corresponds to snow depth of approximately 10 cm for snowpack of moderate density (300 kg/m 3 ), typical in the North Cascades (Mizukami and Perica 2008). In addition, cold exposure could be accentuated at sites with low minimum VPD in winter (McArthur 1991). In addition, cold exposure could be accentuated at sites with low minimum VPD in winter (McArthur 1991).…”

Section: Weather and Snowpack Datamentioning

confidence: 99%

Ecological consequences of anomalies in atmospheric moisture and snowpack

Johnston

Bruggeman

Beers

et al. 2019

Ecology

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Although increased frequency of extreme-weather events is one of the most secure predictions associated with contemporary climate change, effects of such events on distribution and abundance of climate-sensitive species remain poorly understood. Montane ecosystems may be especially sensitive to extreme weather because of complex abiotic and biotic interactions that propagate from climate-driven reductions in snowpack. Snowpack not only protects subnivean biotas from extreme cold, but also influences forage availability through timing of melt-off and water availability. We related relative abundances of an alpine mammal, the American pika (Ochotona princeps), to measures of weather and snowpack dynamics over an 8-yr period that included before and after a year of record-low snowpack in Washington, USA. We sought to (1) quantify any change in pika abundance associated with the snowpack anomaly and (2) identify aspects of weather and snowpack that influenced abundance of pikas. Pikas showed a 1-yr lag response to the snowpack anomaly and exhibited marked declines in abundance at elevations below 1,400 m simultaneous with increased abundances at higher elevations. Atmospheric moisture, indexed by vapor pressure deficit (VPD), was especially important, evidenced by strong support for the top-ranked model that included the interaction of VPD with snowpack duration. Notably, our novel application of VPD from gridded climate data for analyses of animal abundances shows strong potential for improving species distribution models because VPD represents an important aspect of weather that influences the physiology and habitat of biota. Pikas were apparently affected by cold stress without snowpack at mid elevations, whereas changes to forage associated with snowpack and VPD were influential at high and low elevations. Our results reveal context dependency in pika responses to weather and illustrate how snow drought can lead to rapid change in the abundance of subnivean animals.

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Section: Weather and Snowpack Datamentioning

confidence: 99%

Ecological consequences of anomalies in atmospheric moisture and snowpack

Johnston

Bruggeman

Beers

et al. 2019

Ecology

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“…Measurements on sheep exposed to a clear night sky have shown the fleece to be at least 2.58C below air temperature. Experiments on pigeons, Columba livia, have recorded temperature differences of 58C [9,10]. On a clear night, a sheep's fleece can accumulate water (and release latent heat) by condensation when the fleece temperature drops below the dew point of air [9].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In most birds, plumage is able to resist the flow of heat, such that surface temperature is normally a few degrees above ambient temperature [8]. However, under certain conditions animal pelage can cool to below air temperature [9,10]. The aim of this study was, therefore, to determine surface temperature variation in free ranging emperor penguins, and to predict the direction and magnitude of heat fluxes from different body parts.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Emperor penguin body surfaces cool below air temperature

et al. 2013

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Emperor penguins Aptenodytes forsteri are able to survive the harsh Antarctic climate because of specialized anatomical, physiological and behavioural adaptations for minimizing heat loss. Heat transfer theory predicts that metabolic heat loss in this species will mostly depend on radiative and convective cooling. To examine this, thermal imaging of emperor penguins was undertaken at the breeding colony of Pointe Géologie in Terre Adélie (66840 0 S 1408 01 0 E), Antarctica in June 2008. During clear sky conditions, most outer surfaces of the body were colder than surrounding sub-zero air owing to radiative cooling. In these conditions, the feather surface will paradoxically gain heat by convection from surrounding air. However, owing to the low thermal conductivity of plumage any heat transfer to the skin surface will be negligible. Future thermal imaging studies are likely to yield further insights into the adaptations of this species to the Antarctic climate.

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“…The magnitude of sensible heat loss by conduction and convection is dependent on the thermal conduction from the body core to the skin and from the skin to the surrounding air. Hair coat characteristics affect the transfer of thermal energy from the skin to the environment and, consequently, the body temperature control (Cena and Monteith, 1975a,b;McArthur, 1991;DaSilva, 1999).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%