Journal article
Do season and distribution affect thermal energetics of a hibernating bat endemic to the tropics and subtropics?
American Journal of Physiology: Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology, Vol.301(2), pp.R542-R547
2011
PMID: 21632847
Abstract
Stawski C, Geiser F. Do season and distribution affect thermal energetics of a hibernating bat endemic to the tropics and subtropics? Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 301: R542-R547, 2011. First published June 1, 2011; doi: 10.1152/ajpregu.00792.2010.-Although many tropical and subtropical areas experience pronounced seasonal changes in weather and food availability, few studies have examined and none have compared the thermal physiology and energetics of a hibernating mammal that is restricted to these regions. We quantified thermal energetics of northern long-eared bats (Nyctophilus bifax; body mass similar to 10 g) during summer, winter, and spring from a subtropical habitat, and also during winter from a tropical habitat, to determine how N. bifax cope with climate and seasonal changes in weather. We captured bats in the wild and measured metabolic rates via open-flow respirometry. The basal metabolic rate of subtropical bats at an ambient temperature (T-a) of 32.6 +/- 0.7 degrees C was 1.28 +/- 0.06 ml O-2.g(-1).h(-1) during both summer and winter, similar to other species of Nyctophilus. Resting metabolic rates below the thermoneutral zone increased similarly with decreasing T-a during all seasons and in both regions. All individuals showed a high proclivity to enter torpor at T-a values below the thermoneutral zone. Metabolic rates in torpid thermoconforming bats fell with T-a and body temperature, and mean minimum metabolic rates during torpor were similar during all seasons and in both regions and as predicted from body mass in temperate zone hibernators. At very low T-a, torpid N. bifax thermoregulated, and this threshold T-a differed significantly between subtropical (T-a = 3.5 +/- 0.3 degrees C) and tropical (T-a = 6.7 +/- 0.7 degrees C) individuals, but not between seasons. Our data show that thermal energetics of N. bifax do not vary seasonally and in many aspects are similar in tropical and subtropical bats; however, torpid individuals from the subtropics allow body temperature to fall to significantly lower values than those from the tropics.
Details
- Title
- Do season and distribution affect thermal energetics of a hibernating bat endemic to the tropics and subtropics?
- Authors
- Clare Stawski (Corresponding Author) - University of New EnglandFritz Geiser (Author) - University of New England
- Publication details
- American Journal of Physiology: Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology, Vol.301(2), pp.R542-R547
- Publisher
- American Physiological Society
- DOI
- 10.1152/ajpregu.00792.2010
- ISSN
- 1522-1490
- PMID
- 21632847
- Grant note
- Bat Conservation International University of New England Australian Research Council Australian Postgraduate Award; Australian Government New South Wales Government Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water
- Organisation Unit
- University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; School of Science, Technology and Engineering
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99678997702621
- Output Type
- Journal article
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