Cooling and Thermal Conductivity in Three Small Alaskan Mammals

Morrison, Peter; Tietz, William J.

doi:10.2307/1376478

Cited by 85 publications

(30 citation statements)

References 2 publications

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“…Although we did not measure the length of the deep, insulating fur layer on the live animals that we studied, it seems from this comparison that it would generally be less than 9-10 mm in length. Seasonal increases in the density of winter fur, associated with molt, offer evidence of functional adjustments made to enhance the thermoregulatory role of the fur in rodents (Sealander 1951;Morrison and Tietz 1957;Reynolds 1993).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A laboratory study of the harvest mouse, Reithrodontomys megalotis, showed an increase of oxygen consumption in mice whose fur was experimentally removed by shaving (Pearson 1960a). In three species of small mammals, increases in depth of fur and minimizing body surface area by postural adjustment were shown to decrease thermal conductance (Morrison and Tietz 1957). Fur of white-footed mice, Peromyscus leucopus, was shown to be denser in winter and this led to increased survival in acute laboratory exposures to cold in the absence of food (Sealander 1951).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Life with fur and without: experimental field energetics and survival of naked meadow voles

Kenagy¹,

Pearson

2000

Oecologia

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Hair is considered to be a basic mammalian feature that provides protection and insulation, promoting energy conservation and survival. To quantify the functional significance of mammalian pelage, we tested the short-term experimental effects of fur removal in a natural population of the California vole, Microtus californicus, in winter. The daily energy expenditure (DEE) of seven voles was directly measured in the field using stable isotopes, first with the animals in their natural condition and then again after experimental removal of pelage by shaving. The initial mean±SD DEE of 96.0±23.1 kJ/day increased by only about 10%, to 106.3±21.4 kJ/day, following shaving. The voles showed a body mass loss of 5%, about half of which was due to fur removal. Comparing slightly larger samples of all animals whose local survival could be documented, we found 100% survival over the 5 initial days of the experimental manipulation in 16 control animals and nine shaved animals; over the following 3 weeks the survival of shaved mice did not differ significantly from that of controls. We were surprised that the average increase in energy expenditure of voles without fur was so modest, though the range of individual values was great, and likewise we were surprised that shaved voles survived as well as they did. M. californicus survives naturally in winter under conditions of social aggregation that include huddling together of individuals in nests; this situation probably provided our experimentally shaved voles an opportunity to minimize the energetic disadvantages of pelage loss. They may also have employed a variety of compensatory physiological and behavioral responses, including reduction in activity time and food intake, and perhaps a related small decline in body mass. Our limited sample sizes made it difficult to detect subtle differences that may have been biologically significant in the system we studied. Nonetheless, we can reaffirm that fur has an insulative value that promotes energy economy and survival. However, we also conclude that mammalian physiology and behavior are sufficiently complex and flexible that a variety of responses can be deployed to promote survival under unusual circumstances such as those of our experimental test.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Life with fur and without: experimental field energetics and survival of naked meadow voles

Kenagy¹,

Pearson

2000

Oecologia

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“…Seasonal increases in the density, thickness and length of fur have been shown to decrease thermal conductance in winter (e.g. Hart, 1956;Morrison and Tietz, 1957;Conley and Porter, 1980;Jacobsen, 1980). Furthermore, the presence of fur substantially contributes to energy savings during torpor or hibernation by decreasing body heat loss and reducing energy expenditure during periodic arousals from torpor and subsequent intervals of normothermia (Snapp and Heller, 1981;Kauffman et al, 2001a;Kauffman et al, 2004).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Limits to sustained energy intake. X. Effects of fur removal on reproductive performance in laboratory mice

Król

Murphy

Speakman

2007

Journal of Experimental Biology

131

129

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“…However, relatively hairless mice have been reared at -30 C [Barnett, 1965]. For three species of small alaskan mammals (Clethrionomys rutilus dawsoni, Microtus economis macfarlani, and Sorex cinereus hollisteri) Morrison and Tietz [1957] found values for the total insulation much higher than others reported elsewhere in the literature. These high values might be explained by the postulated role of the fur in conditions where air movement is an important factor.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 79%

The Insulative Value of Mouse Fur

Dawson

Webster

1967

Exp Physiol

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Work reported in the literature has demonstrated the importance of physical insulation as a factor affecting the metabolic response of animals to thermal loads. This paper describes a technique for measuring the thermal insulation of the fur on small pelt samples. The insulation of the fur of the mouse (Mus musculus) was 0-20 (S.D. = 0-04) clo or 1-55 (S.D. =0-46) clo/cm. Special problems relating to the value of the insulation of the fur to small animals such as mice are discussed.THE physical insulation of a mammnal or bird is an important factor determining its 'private climate'. This was clearly demonstrated by Scholander et al. [1950a, b, c] in their investigations of adaptation in mammals and birds exposed to arctic and tropical climates. While the metabolic rates of arctic and tropical mammals and birds were similar, the physical insulation of arctic animals was greater, particularly in species larger than the red fox (Vulpes fulva alascensis). The larger arctic animals showed a lower critical temperature than tropical forms, because of their greater insulation. This interaction between coat insulation, metabolic rate and environment, which has also been stressed by Herrington [1951], suggests that account should be taken of the magnitude of the physical insulation in attempts to specify the standard metabolic rate of fur-bearing species.Scholander et al. (1950a] were unable to measure the thermal insulation of the coat of the shrew (Sorex tundrensis), and were forced to estimate it from the fur thickness. Barnett [1959] used the method of Scholander et al, [1950a] to measure the insulationi of the mouse pelt, but had to use pelts from two different mice at once in order to obtain his measurements.A technique has been developed which enables the thermal insulation of small pelt samples to be measured. The results obtained with the technique described below have also made possible some assessment of the value of the furry coat to small animals such as mice. MATERIALS AND METHODSThe animals used were adult male and female house mice (Mus musculus). Most were outbred, segregating for coat colour, short ear (se), and vestigial tail (vt) genes. Some inbred (C3H) mice were also used. All mice were housed in an air-conditioned room set to a temperature of 220 C, and were exposed continually to a 14 hours light -10 hours darkness cycle. Animals had ad libitum access to Drug Houses of Australia rat and mouse cubes, and water.

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Cooling and Thermal Conductivity in Three Small Alaskan Mammals

Cited by 85 publications

References 2 publications

Life with fur and without: experimental field energetics and survival of naked meadow voles

Life with fur and without: experimental field energetics and survival of naked meadow voles

Limits to sustained energy intake. X. Effects of fur removal on reproductive performance in laboratory mice

The Insulative Value of Mouse Fur

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