Daily torpor in free-ranging common dormice (Muscardinus avellanarius) in Lithuania

Abstract

Torpid common dormice (Muscardinus avellanarius) were found in nestboxes during all the activity period from early April until late October. Prevalence of torpor among dormice was highest in spring, decreased considerably in summer and increased again in October. The proportion of adult dormice that were torpid was inversely related to mean monthly air temperature, except in September, when dormice prepare for hibernation by accumulating fat reserves. In spring and summer, torpid dormice were found when ambient temperature was up to 14-15 1C and in the arousal phase of torpor -up to 19-20 1C. In autumn, dormice were active at much lower ambient temperatures compared to spring and summer, and only dormice that were fat enough and ready for hibernation were torpid. Torpor bouts usually lasted only until noon, but also in the afternoon during persistently low ambient temperatures in April and October. In April-July, torpor was more frequent among adult males than females (75% vs. 46%), and pregnant females were never found in deep torpor. Prevalence of torpor among young-of-the-year was lower compared to adult dormice at the same time. In October, the average weight of torpid young-of-the-year dormice was significantly higher compared to the weight of active dormice (22.3 vs. 17.5 g).

The evolution of endothermy in Cenozoic mammals: a plesiomorphic‐apomorphic continuum

“…They are thought to have a European origin (Montgelard et al , 2003). To date, torpor and/or hibernation have been reported in at least one species from each subfamily, namely Muscardinus (Juskaitis, 2005), Glis (Bieber & Ruf, 2009; Wilz & Heldmaier, 2000) and Glirulus (Shibata, Kawamichi & Nishibayashi, 2004) within Gliridae, Graphiurus (Ellison & Skinner, 1991; Perrin & Ridgard, 1999; Webb & Skinner, 1996; Whittington‐Jones & Brown, 1999) within Graphiurinae, and Eliomys (Montoya, Ambid & Agid, 1979) within Leithiinae. Extant dormice inhabit a remarkable range of habits from deserts (e.g.…”

They don’t live forever: How life history data and encounter probability help to assess success of Muscardinus avellanarius translocations (Rodentia: Gliridae)

“…On this basis monthly survival rates can easily be calculated: Different studies indicate that 95% of the local dormouse population can be recorded by conducting regular nestbox checks every two weeks (Morris et al 1990, Juškaitis 1997, Büchner 1998. Recapture probabilities used in our model were calculated on the basis of data from a dormouse study in Saxony (Germany), where animals were individually marked with ear tattoos and nestboxes checked every two weeks between April and November 2012 (seventeen times a year; Böhme 2013).…”

Combinations of reproductive, individual, and weather effects best explain torpor patterns among female little brown bats (Myotis lucifugus)

“…As such, the patterns and extent of torpor use by reproductive females vary among taxa and environmental conditions (McAllan & Geiser, ). Torpor use during incubation, brooding, pregnancy, or lactation occurs among species of hummingbirds, marsupials, bats, tenrecs, hedgehogs, mouse lemurs, and dormice (Calder & Booser, ; Dausmann, ; Dzal & Brigham, ; Fowler, ; Geiser et al, ; Juškaitis, ; Lovegrove & Génin, ). These species typically inhabit unpredictable environments where the availability of food and water fluctuates with season or weather, in which torpor use may be necessary for reproduction to occur or to optimize reproductive output (Körtner, Pavey, & Geiser, ; McAllan & Geiser, ).…”