The timing of hibernation in Tasmanian echidnas: why do they do it when they do?

Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology. Part B, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Stewart Nicol, Niels A Andersen

Abstract

We investigated the patterns of hibernation and arousals in seven free-ranging echidnas Tachyglossus aculeatus setosus (two male, five female) in Tasmania using implanted temperature data loggers. All echidnas showed a 'classical' pattern of mammalian hibernation, with bouts of deep torpor interrupted by periodic arousals to euthermia (mean duration 1.04+/-0.05 (n=146). Torpor bout length increased as body temperature fell during the hibernation season, and became more variable as temperature rose again. Hibernation started in late summer (February 28+/-5 days, n=6) and males aroused just before the winter solstice (June 15+/-3 days, n=3), females that subsequently produced young aroused 40 days later (July 25+/-3, n=4) while females that did not produce young hibernated for a further two months (arousal Sept 27+/-5, n=7). We suggest that hibernation in Tasmanian echidnas can be divided into two phases, the first phase, marked by declining minimum body temperatures as ambient temperature falls, appears to be obligatory for all animals, while the second phase is 'optional' and is utilised to varying amounts by females. We suggest that early arousal and breeding is the favoured option for females in good condition, and that the a...Continue Reading

References

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Sep 29, 1998·Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology & Physiology·F Geiser
Jun 17, 2000·The American Naturalist·Barry G Lovegrove

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Citations

Nov 27, 2008·Die Naturwissenschaften·Claudia Bieber, Thomas Ruf
Mar 12, 2009·Die Naturwissenschaften·J Schmid, J U Ganzhorn
Jun 6, 2007·Journal of Comparative Physiology. B, Biochemical, Systemic, and Environmental Physiology·Fritz GeiserGerhard Körtner
Dec 12, 2003·Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology. Part A, Molecular & Integrative Physiology·Stewart Nicol, Niels A Andersen
Dec 12, 2003·Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology. Part A, Molecular & Integrative Physiology·Jutta SchmidStewart C Nicol
Dec 12, 2003·Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology. Part A, Molecular & Integrative Physiology·Stewart Nicol
Apr 18, 2008·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Lee Hsiang LiowNils Chr Stenseth
Jun 21, 2011·Biological Reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society·Barry Gordon Lovegrove
Jun 30, 2009·PloS One·Gemma Morrow, Stewart C Nicol
Oct 19, 2006·Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology. Part A, Molecular & Integrative Physiology·Stewart C Nicol, Niels A Andersen
Sep 5, 2006·Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology. Part A, Molecular & Integrative Physiology·Kênia C BicegoLuiz G S Branco
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Aug 23, 2003·Journal of Biological Rhythms·Norman F Ruby
May 10, 2017·Frontiers in Neuroscience·Stewart C Nicol
Jul 4, 2012·General and Comparative Endocrinology·Jenny SprentStewart C Nicol
Feb 3, 2007·The Journal of Experimental Biology·Stewart C Nicol, Niels A Andersen

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