The Energetics of Huddling by Endotherms

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Abstract
The energetic advantages and disadvantages of huddling by endotherms are examined using a mathematical model. The model accounts for the influences of ambient temperatures, body temperature, temperature under shelter, reduction in exposed surface area while huddling, the metabolic cost of being active, food depletion resulting from the addition of animals to the huddle, feeding strategy and the animal''s time budget. When evaluated with data for Peromyscus spp., the model predicted observed behavior well. Huddling will have energetic advantages whenever ambient temperature and nest temperature are well below the thermoneutral zone, and, most importantly, the animal spends most of its time in the nest. This remains true even if the animal enters torpor provided body temperature does not approach nest temperature.

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