Thermoregulation of Arctic Weasels

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Abstract
Thermoregulation of Arctic least weasels (Mustela rixosa) and ermines (Mustela erminea) in winter and summer pelage was studied at Point Barrow, Alaska. Mean body temperatures at ranging from -10 to 30 C were about 40 C and independent of . Basal metabolism of both species in either winter or summer pelage was significantly greater than predicted values for other mammals based on body mass, but half or less the values previously reported for M. rixosa. Elevated Vo, in thermoneutrality was associated with higher rates of ventilation than predicted, yielding extraction coefficients similar to those of other small mammals. Below thermoneutrality, increased ventilation by both elevated frequency and tidal volume generally followed increases in oxygen demand. Thermal conductance of both species in winter or summer pelage was higher than that of other mammals of similar size and showed essentially the same relation to body mass as exhibited by long-tailed weasels, a larger species from a warmer climate. Conductance did not vary seasonally in these species.

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