The fur of mammals in exposed environments; do crypsis and thermal needs necessarily conflict? The polar bear and marsupial koala compared

Journal of Comparative Physiology. B, Biochemical, Systemic, and Environmental Physiology
T J DawsonS K Maloney

Abstract

The furs of mammals have varied and complex functions. Other than for thermoregulation, fur is involved in physical protection, sensory input, waterproofing and colouration, the latter being important for crypsis or camouflage. Some of these diverse functions potentially conflict. We have investigated how variation in cryptic colouration and thermal features may interact in the coats of mammals and influence potential heat inflows from solar radiation, much of which is outside the visible spectral range. The coats of the polar bear (Ursus maritimus) and the marsupial koala (Phascolarctus cinereus) have insulative similarities but, while they feature cryptic colouration, they are of contrasting colour, i.e. whitish and dark grey. The reflectance of solar radiation by coats was measured across the full solar spectrum using a spectroradiometer. The modulation of incident solar radiation and resultant heat flows in these coats were determined at a range of wind speeds by mounting them on a heat flux transducer/temperature-controlled plate apparatus in a wind tunnel. A lamp with a spectral distribution of radiation similar to the solar spectrum was used as a proxy for the sun. Crypsis by colour matching was apparent within the visib...Continue Reading

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Citations

Dec 22, 2015·American Journal of Primatology·Richard McFarlandShane K Maloney
Jun 12, 2016·Die Naturwissenschaften·Chris B WackerFritz Geiser
Nov 3, 2016·Journal of Comparative Physiology. B, Biochemical, Systemic, and Environmental Physiology·Terence J Dawson, Shane K Maloney
Feb 27, 2018·The Journal of Animal Ecology·Duncan MitchellAndrea Fuller
May 10, 2018·Molecular Ecology·Sergio F Nigenda-MoralesRobert K Wayne
Mar 6, 2018·Biological Reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society·Marketa ZimovaL Scott Mills
Mar 5, 2016·Functional Ecology·Olivier PenacchioJulie M Harris
Jun 1, 2018·Journal of the Royal Society, Interface·Madeleine SealeNaomi Nakayama
May 24, 2017·Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences·Devi Stuart-FoxSusana Clusella-Trullas
Oct 24, 2017·Scientific Reports·Olivier PenacchioP George Lovell
Mar 5, 2021·The Journal of Animal Ecology·Cecilia Di BernardiArild Landa
Aug 26, 2021·Ecology and Evolution·K Anne-Isola NekarisThais Q Morcatty

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