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Nocturnal reductions in body temperature in high-elevation Neotropical birds

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Abstract

Seasonal and daily fluctuations in environmental temperature can affect the fitness of endotherms by increasing metabolic costs and energetic requirements. Consequently, some species adopt strategies that function to minimize costs, including minor circadian fluctuations in body temperature (Tb) and facultative reductions in Tb, known as heterothermy. The geographic and taxonomic patterns of variation in Tb are poorly-known, especially in the Neotropics. We investigated the diurnal variation in Tb of small birds inhabiting high-elevation Neotropical montane forests which must cope with predictably cool nighttime temperatures. Two-thirds of the individuals we measured lowered their Tb at night, and changes were greater when differences between daytime and nighttime ambient temperatures were greater. Our study expands the taxonomic and geographic scope of documented thermoregulatory flexibility in birds by demonstrating that even in the Neotropics, some montane birds may routinely adopt energy-saving physiological strategies. Such data are important to understanding and interpreting biogeographic patterns and behavior of tropical birds.

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Acknowledgements

This project was conducted during the Organization for Tropical Studies’ “Tropical Biology: An Ecological Approach” course #16-3. We thank OTS and Drs. Stynoski and Salerno for their scientific advice and logistical support. We thank Srs Solano and Torres at Cuericí for their expertise, logistical support, and permission to conduct research. All research was conducted under approved animal care and use protocols and research permits SINAC-SE-CUS-PI-R-0035-2016, obtained from the Ministerio de Ambiente y Energía of Costa Rica. This is contribution no. 18-224-J of the Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station. This research was supported by a grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF-DEB 1646806).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Conservation Biology and Environmental Science, University of Hawaii at Hilo, 200 W Kawili St, Hilo, HI, 96720, USA

    Keith Burnett

  2. Department of Biology, Duke University, 103 Allen Bldg, Durham, NC, 27708, USA

    Matthew N. Zipple

  3. Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, 480 Wilson Rd, Room 13, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA

    Lauren T. Phillips

  4. Department of Biological Sciences, University of Arkansas, 525 Old Main, Fayetteville, AR, 72701, USA

    Pooja Panwar

  5. Department of Biological Sciences, Texas Tech University, Box 43131, Lubbock, TX, 79409, USA

    Liam P. Mcguire

  6. Division of Biology, Kansas State University, 116 Ackert Hall, Manhattan, KS, 66506, USA

    W. Alice Boyle

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  1. Keith Burnett
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  2. Matthew N. Zipple
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  3. Lauren T. Phillips
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  4. Pooja Panwar
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  5. Liam P. Mcguire
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  6. W. Alice Boyle
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Correspondence to Keith Burnett.

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Burnett, K., Zipple, M.N., Phillips, L.T. et al. Nocturnal reductions in body temperature in high-elevation Neotropical birds. Trop Ecol 60, 581–586 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42965-019-00051-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s42965-019-00051-y

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