Summary
Seasonal variation in the pattern of torpor and temperature regulation was investigated in the closely related arid zone dasyurid marsupialsSminthopsis crassicaudata (17 g),S. macroura (24 g), andDasyuroides byrnei (120 g). The tendency to enter torpor was greater, torpor commenced earlier, torpor duration was longer, and body temperatures (T b) were lower inSminthopsis spp. than inD. byrnei. The minimum mass-specific rate of oxygen consumption (\(\dot V_{O_2 } \)) of torpid animals was similar among the three species despite the differences in minimumT b. The mass-specific oxygen consumption of normothermic animals was reduced during winter when compared with the summer values in all species, but there was no seasonal variation in normothermicT b in any species. The tendency to enter torpor was incrased during winter. TorpidSminthopsis spp. had lower values ofT b and\(\dot V_{O_2 } \) during winter than during summer;D. byrnei did not show seasonal changes in these variables. These results suggest that seasonal changes in the pattern of thermoregulation and torpor in small dasyurids may be more distinct than in larger species.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
Abbreviations
- RMR :
-
resting metabolic rate
- BMR :
-
basal metabolic rate
References
Arnold JM (1976) Growth and bioenergetics of the Chuditch,Dasyurus geoffroii. PhD diss., University of Western Australia, Perth
Aslin HJ (1983) Kowari,Dasyuroides byrnei. In: Strahan R (ed) Complete Book of Australian Mammals. Angus and Robertson, Sydney, pp 24–25
Brody S (1945) Bioenergetics and Growth. Reinhard, New York
Dawson TJ, Hulbert AJ (1970) Standard metabolism, body temperature, and surface area of Australian marsupials. Am J Physiol 218:1233–1238
Gaertner RA, Hart JS, Roy OZ (1973) Seasonal spontaneous torpor in the white-footed mousePeromyscus leucopus. Comp Biochem Physiol 45A:169–181
Geiser F (1985) Physiological and biochemical aspects of torpor in Australian marsupials. PhD diss., Flinders University, Adelaide
Geiser F, Baudinette RV (1985) The influence of temperature and photophase on daily torpor inSminthopsis macroura (Dasyuridae: Marsupialia). J Comp Physiol B 156:129–134
Geiser F (1986) Thermoregulation and torpor in the Kultarr,Antechinomys laniger (Marsupialia: Dasyuridae). J Comp Physiol B 156:751–757
Geiser F, Matwiejczyk L, Baudinette RV (1986a) From ectothermy to heterothermy: The energetics of the Kowari,Dasyuroides byrnei (Marsupialia: Dasyuridae). Physiol Zool 59:220–229
Geiser F, Baudinette RV, McMurchie EJ (1986b) Seasonal changes in the critical arousal temperature of the marsupialSminthopsis crassicaudata correlate with the thermal transition in mitochondrial respiration. Experientia 42:543–547
Godfrey GK (1968) Body temperature and torpor inSminthopsis crassicaudata andS. larapinta (Marsupialia: Dasyuridae). J Zool London 156:499–511
Hart JS, Pohl H, Tener JS (1965) Seasonal acclimation in the varying hare. Can J Zool 43:731–744
Heinrich B, Bartholomew GA (1971) An analysis of pre-flight warm-up in the Sphinx Moth,Manduca sexta. J Exp Biol 55:223–239
Heldmaier G, Steinlechner S (1981a) Seasonal pattern and energetics of short daily torpor in the Djungarian hamster,Phodopus sungorus. Oecologia 48:265–270
Heldmaier G, Steinlechner S (1981b) Seasonal control of energy requirements for thermoregulation in the Djungarian hamster (Phodopus sungorus), living in natural photoperiod. J Comp Physiol 142:429–437
Heldmaier G, Böckler H, Buchberger A, Lynch GR, Puchalski W, Steinlechner S, Wiesinger H (1985) Seasonal acclimation and thermogenesis. In: Gilles R (ed) Circulation, Respiration, and Metabolism. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 490–501
Hinds DS (1973) Acclimation of thermoregulation in the desert cottontail,Sylvilagus audubonii. J Mammal 54:708–728
Kenagy GJ, Vleck D (1982) Daily temporal organization of metabolism in small mammals: adaptation and diversity. In: Aschoff J, Daan S, Groos G (eds) Vertebrate Circadian Systems. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 322–338
Kennedy P, MacFarlane WV (1971) Oxygen consumption and water turnover of the fat-tailed marsupialsDasycercus cristicauda andSminthopsis crassicaudata. Comp Biochem Physiol 40A:723–732
Lee AK, Woolley P, Braithwaite RW (1982) Life history strategies of dasyurid marsupials. In: Archer M (ed) Carnivorous Marsupials. R Zool Soc New South Wales, Sydney, pp 1–11
Lynch GR, Vogt FD, Smith HR (1978) Seasonal study of spontaneous daily torpor in the white-footed mouse,Peromyscus leucopus. Physiol Zool 51:289–299
MacMillen RE, Nelson JE (1969) Bioenergetics and body size in dasyurid marsupials. Am J Physiol 217:1246–1251
Morton SR (1978) Torpor and nest sharing in free livingSminthopsis crassicaudata (Marsupialia) andMus musculus (Rodentia). J Mammal 59:569–575
Morton SR, Denny MJS, Read DG (1983) Habitat preferences and diets of sympatricSminthopsis crassicaudata andS. macroura (Marsupialia: Dasyuridae). Aust Mammal 6:29–34
O'Reilly HM, Armstrong SM, Coleman GJ (1984) Response to variations in lighting schedule of the cricadian activity rhythms ofSminthopsis macroura frogatti (Marsupiala: Dasyuridae). Aust Mammal 7:89–99
Pengelley ET (1967) The relation of external conditions to the onset and termination of hibernation and aestivation. In: Fisher KC, Dawe AR, Lyman CP, Schönbaum E, South FE (eds) Mammalian Hibernation, III. Oliver and Boyd, London, pp 1–29
Pohl H, Hart JS (1965) Thermoregulation and cold acclimation in a hibernator,Citellus tridecemlineatus. J Appl Physiol 20:398–404
Rosenmann M, Morrison P, Feist D (1975) Seasonal changes in the metabolic capacity of red-backed voles. Physiol Zool 48:303–310
Snapp BD, Heller HC (1981) Suppression of metabolism during hibernation in ground squirrels (Citellus lateralis). Physiol Zool 54:297–307
Tannenbaum MG (1985) Overwintering in southeasternPeromyscus: The roles of daily torpor, food hoarding, and lipid accumulation. PhD diss., Clemson University, South Carolina
Wallis RL (1976) Torpor in the dasyurid marsupialAntechinus stuartii. Comp Biochem Physiol 53A:319–322
Withers PC (1977) Measurement of\(\dot V_{O_2 } ,{\text{ }}\dot V_{CO_2 } \), and evaporative water loss with a flow through mask. J Appl Physiol 42:120–123
Wunder BA, Dobkin DS, Gettinger RD (1977) Shifts of thermogenesis in the prairie vole (Microtus ochragaster). Oecologia 29:11–26
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Geiser, F., Baudinette, R.V. Seasonality of torpor and thermoregulation in three dasyurid marsupials. J Comp Physiol B 157, 335–344 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00693360
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00693360