The Energy Cost of Burrowing by the Pocket Gopher Thomomys                bottae

Vleck, David

doi:10.1086/physzool.52.2.30152558

Cited by 392 publications

(346 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…Efficient spatial orientation and memory is, however, critical for fossorial species in their search for food patches or mates, as underground locomotion and excavation is comparatively expensive (Lovegrove 1989;Vleck 1979Vleck , 1981Zelová et al 2010). In the absence of light, subterranean species use olfactory (Heth et al 2002) and somatosensory stimuli (Kimchi and Terkel 2004b), as well as the earth's magnetic field (Burda et al 1990b;Kimchi and Terkel 2004a) and path integration (Kimchi and Terkel 2002), to orientate themselves.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Influence of spatial environment on maze learning in an African mole-rat

et al. 2012

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In subterranean species where excavation is energetically expensive, efficient spatial navigation is vital to reducing the costs of locating important resources such as food and mates. While spatial navigational ability is positively correlated with sociality in subterranean mammals, we have a less clear understanding of the role of habitat complexity on navigational ability. We tested spatial navigational ability and memory in 12-18 month captive Natal mole-rats (Cryptomys hottentotus natalensis) maintained in a simple environment with no environmental enrichment and newly captured wild individuals from natural, complex burrow systems. In maze trials, mole-rats captured freshly from the wild 2 made significantly fewer navigational errors, were more likely to successfully navigate the maze, travelled shorter distances and as a consequence, completed the maze in less time.Male mole-rats from both experimental treatments were more likely to complete the maze than females. Memory retention of the maze was tested on day two, seven, 30 and 60 respectively. The results were variable, although both groups showed a significant memory retention 60 days after testing. Our results highlight the potential importance of the environment (microhabitat complexity) on spatial cognitive performance in mole-rats.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Influence of spatial environment on maze learning in an African mole-rat

et al. 2012

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“…Although burrows do offer many advantages to their occupants, they has one main disadvantage, this being it is energetically more expensive to create an underground burrow system and foraging for food and searching for potential mates. Several factors may increase the foraging costs for mole-rats inhabiting arid environments with low and unpredictable rainfall patterns (Vleck, 1979), sporadic distribution of food resources and "blind" foraging methods (Lovegrove & Wissel, 1988;Lovegrove, 1991;Jarvis et al, 1998).…”

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confidence: 99%

“…They inhabit an environment that is thermally buffered and protected from most predators but is energetically expensive to create and maintain (Nevo, 1979;Bennett et al, 1988). Travelling underground has been estimated to be as much as 3400 times more energetically expensive than travelling the same distance on the surface (Vleck, 1979); therefore, selection should favour a foraging strategy that it is efficient during the summer when the ground is hard and the excavation of burrows is more difficult.…”

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confidence: 99%

Seasonal changes in burrow geometry of the common mole rat (Rodentia: Bathyergidae)

Thomas

Scantlebury

Swanepoel

et al. 2013

Naturwissenschaften

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Sociality in mole-rats has been suggested to have evolved as a response to the widely dispersed food resources and the limited burrowing opportunities that result from sporadic rainfall events. In the most arid regions, individual foraging efficiency is reduced and 1 energetic constraints increase. In this study, we investigate seasonal differences in burrow architecture of the social Cryptomys hottentotus hottentotus in a mesic region. We describe burrow geometry in response to seasonal weather conditions for two seasons (wet and dry).Interactions occurred between seasons and colony size for the size of the burrow systems but not the shape of the burrow systems. The fractal dimension values of the burrow systems did not differ between seasons. Thus, the burrow complexity was dependent upon the number of mole-rats present in the social group.

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“…For instance, a chronically elevated BMR dictates a high rate of heat production at all ambient temperatures, and compounds the risk of hyperthermia during activity on land [18,19]. The latter problem would seem especially acute for a semi-aquatic species that is also fossorial, and therefore challenged by the high metabolic heat loads associated with digging [16,35]. Indeed, variation in T b of the radio-implanted mole appeared to track bursts of motor activity in the soil (Fig.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Like aquatic foraging, burrowing is considered one of the most energetically demanding activities engaged in by mammals [16,35]. However, the confined burrow environment impedes heat dissipation [19] and the inherently low gas permeability of soil may reduce oxygen availability and increase the risk of respiratory acidosis to fossorial mammals [2].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fasting metabolism and thermoregulatory competence of the star-nosed mole, Condylura cristata (Talpidae: Condylurinae)

Campbell

McIntyre

MacArthur

1999

Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part A: Molecular &

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Metabolic and body temperature (T b ) responses of star-nosed moles (Condylura cristata) exposed to air temperatures ranging from 0 to 33°C were investigated. The thermoneutral zone of this semi-aquatic mole extended from 24.5 to 33°C, over which its basal rate of metabolism averaged 2.25 ml O 2 g − 1 h − 1 (45.16 J g − 1 h − 1 ). This rate of metabolism is higher than predicted for terrestrial forms, and substantially higher than for other moles examined to date. Minimum thermal conductance was nearly identical to that predicted for similar-sized eutherians and may represent a compromise between the need to dissipate heat while digging and foraging in subterranean burrows, and the need to conserve heat and avoid hypothermia during exposure to cold. C. cristata precisely regulated T b (mean 9SE =37.790.05°C) over the entire range of test temperatures. Over three separate 24-h periods, T b of a radio-implanted mole varied from 36.6 to 38.8°C, and generally tracked level of activity. No obvious circadian variation in T b and activity was apparent, although cyclic 2 -4 h intervals of activity punctuated by periods of inactivity lasting 3-5 h were routinely observed. We suggest that the elevated basal metabolic rate and relatively high T b of star-nosed moles may reflect the semi-aquatic habits of this unique talpid.

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The Energy Cost of Burrowing by the Pocket Gopher Thomomys bottae

Cited by 392 publications

References 22 publications

Influence of spatial environment on maze learning in an African mole-rat

Influence of spatial environment on maze learning in an African mole-rat

Seasonal changes in burrow geometry of the common mole rat (Rodentia: Bathyergidae)

Fasting metabolism and thermoregulatory competence of the star-nosed mole, Condylura cristata (Talpidae: Condylurinae)

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