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Overwintering strategy of wild free-ranging and enclosure-housed Japanese raccoon dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides albus)

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Abstract

The raccoon dog, Nyctereutes procyonoides, is a canid with a passive overwintering strategy in northern Europe. However, the behaviour and physiology of the Japanese subspecies, N. p. albus, which has fewer chromosomes than the other subspecies, remain unknown. We measured body temperature, body composition and blood biochemistry of wild free-ranging and fasted enclosure-housed N. p. albus during boreal winter in Hokkaido, Japan. Body temperature of N. p. albus decreased from 38°C in autumn to 35.9–36.7°C while maintaining a circadian rhythm in late February (n = 3). A transient 18–36% decrease in resting heart rate occurred when body temperature was low (n = 2). Despite a 33–45% decrease in body weight due to winter fasting, circulating glucose, total protein and triglyceride levels were maintained (n = 4). Serum urea nitrogen dropped by 43–45% from autumn to spring, suggesting protein conservation during fasting. The overwintering survival strategy of N. p. albus in central Hokkaido is based upon large changes in seasonal activity patterns, winter denning and communal housing without the large decrease in body temperature that is characteristic of subarctic animals exhibiting hibernation or torpor.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Masao Kosuge and Gen Bando for providing access to the Asahiyama Zoological Park facilities. We thank the staff at Asahiyama Zoological Park for skilled technical assistance. This study was funded by grants from the Wild Animal Fund of the Japanese Association of Zoos and Aquariums to D.F., JSPS Fellows (#20-10270) to N.K., and JSPS Grant-in-Aid for Exploratory Research (#18650226) to M.H.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physiology, Asahikawa Medical College, Midorigaoka-higashi, Asahikawa, Hokkaido, 078-8510, Japan

    Naoya Kitao, Masaaki Hashimoto & Peter G. Osborne

  2. Asahikawa Municipal Asahiyama Zoological Park and Wildlife Conservation Center, Kuranuma, Higashi-asahikawa, Asahikawa, Hokkaido, 078-8205, Japan

    Daisuke Fukui

  3. Baongong Agri-Science Center, No. 31-1, Alley 18, Lane 791, Taidong City, 950, Taiwan

    Peter G. Osborne

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  1. Naoya Kitao
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  2. Daisuke Fukui
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  3. Masaaki Hashimoto
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  4. Peter G. Osborne
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Correspondence to Naoya Kitao.

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Naoya Kitao, Daisuke Fukui and Peter G. Osborne contributed equally to this work

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Kitao, N., Fukui, D., Hashimoto, M. et al. Overwintering strategy of wild free-ranging and enclosure-housed Japanese raccoon dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides albus). Int J Biometeorol 53, 159–165 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-008-0199-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-008-0199-7

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