Files and links (2)
Thermal physiology and activity in relation to reproductive status and sex in a free-ranging semelparous marsupial917.21 kB
Published VersionCC BY V4.0, Open Access
Journal article
Thermal physiology and activity in relation to reproductive status and sex in a free-ranging semelparous marsupial
Conservation Physiology, Vol.7(1), pp.1-10
2019
PMCID: PMC6846706
PMID: 31737272
Abstract
In a changing climate, southern hemisphere mammals are predicted to face rising temperatures and aridity, resulting in food and water shortages, which may further challenge already constrained energetic demands. Especially semelparous mammals may be threatened because survival of the entire population depends on the success of a single breeding event. One of these species, the yellow-footed antechinus, Antechinus flavipes, a small, heterothermic marsupial mammal, commences reproduction during winter, when insect prey is limited and energetic constraints are high. We examined the inter-relations between thermal and foraging biology of free-ranging A. flavipes and examined whether they use torpor for energy conservation, despite the fact that reproduction and torpor are considered to be incompatible for many mammals. Females used torpor during the reproductive season, but patterns changed with reproductive status. Prior to breeding, females used frequent (86% of days), deep and long torpor that was more pronounced than any other reproductive group, including pre-mating males (64% of days). Pregnant females continued to use torpor, albeit torpor was less frequent (28% of days) and significantly shorter and shallower than before breeding. Parturient and lactating females did not express torpor. During the mating period, males reduced torpor use (24% of days). Pre-reproductive females and pre-mating maleswere the least active and may use torpor to minimize predator exposure and enhance fat deposition in anticipation of the energetic demands associated with impending mating, gestation and lactation. Reproductive females were most active and likely foraged and fed to promote growth and development of young. Our data show that A. flavipes are balancing energetic demands during the reproductive season by modifying torpor and activity patterns. As the timing of reproduction is fixed for this genus, it is probable that climate change will render these behavioural and physiological adaptations as inadequate and threaten this and other semelparous species.
Details
- Title
- Thermal physiology and activity in relation to reproductive status and sex in a free-ranging semelparous marsupial
- Authors
- Cassandra A. Parker (Author) - Univ New England, Ctr Behav & Physiol Ecol, Zool, Armidale, NSW 2351, AustraliaFritz Geiser (Author) - University of New EnglandClare Stawski (Corresponding Author) - University of New England
- Publication details
- Conservation Physiology, Vol.7(1), pp.1-10
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press
- Date published
- 2019
- DOI
- 10.1093/conphys/coz073
- ISSN
- 2051-1434; 2051-1434
- PMID
- 31737272; PMC6846706
- Copyright note
- © The Author(s) 2019. Published by Oxford University Press and the Society for Experimental Biology. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted reuse, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
- Grant note
- Australian Research Council Honours research funds from the University of New England
- Organisation Unit
- University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; School of Science, Technology and Engineering
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99679197802621
- Output Type
- Journal article
Metrics
80 Record Views
InCites Highlights
These are selected metrics from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool, related to this output
- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- International collaboration
- Web Of Science research areas
- Biodiversity Conservation
- Ecology
- Environmental Sciences
- Physiology
UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
This output has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:
Source: InCites