Summary
A study was made of effects of cold exposure (5° C) on the dynamic nature of ptiloerection and shivering in outdoor pigeons in winter and summer and in cold-acclimated (31–34 days at 5° C) pigeons in summer. Shivering (integrated pectoral muscle EMG), and cloacal and foot temperatures were measured and the magnitude of ptiloerection was evaluated as a feather index at 1-min-intervals. A feedback control mechanism was assumed to apply to both ptiloerection and shivering. Their variations with time were described by functionsF(t) andS(t) in Eq. (1) and (2), respectively. The parameters in the functions were determined by minimizing the χ2-value of the fit to the experimental data. To estimate static thermal adaptation of thermoregulatory effector mechanisms to cold, the metabolic rates\(\left( {\dot M} \right)\) of the pigeons were tested at 5 and 26° C, and the plumage wet weight of birds was also determined.
The results show no significant evidence on seasonal or artificial thermal adaptation in thermoregulatory effector mechanisms of pigeons to dynamic or static conditions.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
Abbreviations
- BMR :
-
basal metabolic rate
- C :
-
thermal conductance
- CA :
-
cold-acclimated
- EMG :
-
electromyogram
- FI :
-
feather index
- M :
-
metabolic rate
- S i :
-
summer/indoor
- S o :
-
summer/outdoor
- T a :
-
ambient temperature
- T b :
-
body temperature
- T f :
-
foot temperature
- \(\dot V_{O_2 }\) :
-
oxygen consumption
- W i :
-
winter/indoor
- W o :
-
winter/outdoor
References
Barnett B (1970) Seasonal changes in temperature acclimatization of the house sparrow,Passer domesticus. Comp Biochem Physiol 33:559–578
Brody S (1945) Bioenergetics and growth. New York
Burchard EL, Dontcheff L, Kayser C (1933) Le rhythme nycthéméral chez le pigeon. Ann Physiol Physicochim Biol 9:303–368
Calder WA, King JR (1974) Thermal and caloric relations of birds. In: Farner DS, King JR (eds) Avian biology, vol IV. Academic Press, New York London, pp 259–413
Carey C, Dawson WR, Maxwell LC, Faulkner JA (1978) Seasonal acclimatization to temperature in cardueline finches. II. Changes in body composition and mass in relation to season and acute cold stress. J Comp Physiol 125:101–113
Dawson WR, Carey C (1976) Seasonal acclimatization to temperature in cardueline finches. I. Insulative and metabolic adjustments. J Comp Physiol 112:317–333
Gelineo S (1969) Heat production in birds in summer and winter. Bull Acad Sci 46:99–105
Hart JS (1962) Seasonal acclimatization in four species of small wild birds. Physiol Zool 35:224–236
Hill RW, Beaver DL, Veghte JH (1980) Body surface temperatures and thermoregulation in the black-capped chickadee (Parus atricapillus). Physiol Zool 53:305–321
Hohtola E (1982) Shivering thermogenesis in birds. Acta Univ Oul A139:1–33
Hohtola E, Rintamäki H, Hissa R (1980) Shivering and ptiloerection as complementary cold defense responses in the pigeon during sleep and wakefulness. J Comp Physiol 136:77–81
Ivanov KP (1980) The muscle heat production after adaptation to cold. Med Biol 58:76–81
Kendeigh SC, Wallin HE (1966) Seasonal and taxonomic differences in the size and activity of the thyroid glands in birds. Ohio J Sci 66:369–379
Kendeigh SC, Dolnik VR, Gavrilov VM (1977) Avian energetics. In: Pinowski J, Kendeigh SC (eds) Granivorous birds in ecosystems. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp 127–204
Koban M, Feist DD (1982) The effect of cold on norepinephrine turnover in tissue of seasonal acclimatized redpolls (Carduelis flammea). J Comp Physiol 146:137–144
Ljungren L (1968) Seasonal studies of wood pigeon populations. I. Body weight, feeding habits, liver and thyroid activity. Viltrevy 5:435–494
McFarland DJ, Baher E (1968) Factors affecting feather posture in the barbary dove. Anim Behav 16:171–177
McFarland DJ, Budgell P (1970) The thermoregulatory role of feather movements in the barbary dove (Streptopelia risoria). Physiol Behav 5:763–771
Palokangas R, Nuuja I, Koivusaari J (1975) Seasonal changes in some thermoregulatory variables of the house sparrow (Passer domesticus L.). Comp Biochem Physiol 52A:299–304
Pohl H, West GC (1973) Daily and seasonal variation in metabolic response to cold during rest and forced exercise in the common redpoll. Comp Biochem Physiol 45A:851–867
Prinzinger R, Hänssler J (1980) Metabolism-weight relationship in some small nonpasserine birds. Experientia 36:1299–1300
Scholander PF, Hock R, Walters V, Irving L (1950) Adaptation to cold in arctic and tropical mammals and birds in relation to body temperature, insulation and basal metabolic rate. Biol Bull 99:259–271
Schwan MW, Williams DD (1978) Temperature regulation in the common raven of interior Alaska. Comp Biochem Physiol 60A:31–36
Slonim AD (1971) Eco-physiological patterns of thermoregulation and the shivering thermogenesis. J Physiol 63:418–420
Southwick EE (1980) Seasonal thermoregulatory adjustments in white-crowned sparrows. Auk 97:76–85
Turček FJ (1966) On plumage quantity in birds. Ekol Polska 24A:617–634
Veghte JH (1964) Thermal and metabolic responses of the gray jay to cold stress. Physiol Zool 37:316–328
Wallgren H (1954) Energy metabolism of two species of the genusEmberiza as correlated with distribution and migration. Acta Zool Fenn 84:109
West GC (1965) Shivering and heat production in wild birds. Physiol Zool 38:111–120
West GC (1972) Seasonal differences in resting metabolic rate of alaskan ptarmigan. Comp Biochem Physiol 42A:867–876
Wetmore A (1936) The number of contour feathers in passeriform and related birds. Auk 53:159–169
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Saarela, S., Rintamäki, H. & Saarela, M. Seasonal variation in the dynamics of ptiloerection and shivering correlated changes in the metabolic rate and body temperature of the pigeon. J Comp Physiol B 154, 47–53 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00683215
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00683215