Physiology of thermoregulation in the pika, Ochotona princeps

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The mean body temperature of pika measured by radiotelemetry under field and laboratory conditions was 40.1 °C (range = 37.9–42.7) over an ambient temperature range of −9.3 to 24 °C. The maximum daily fluctuation in any one individual was less than 2.6 °C and no seasonal difference in the level of body temperature maintained was observed. Hyperthermia and death occurred after a 2-h exposure to ambient temperatures higher than 28 °C, inclusive.The basal metabolic rate was 1.53 cc O2/g h and the thermal conductance was between 0.096 and 0.050 cc O2/gh °C, 143% and 101–53%, respectively, of their predicted weight-specific values. The relatively high body temperature of pika is attributed to its high basal metabolic rate and good insulation. The low thermal conductance, which indicates a reduction of energy consumption at ambient temperatures below the lower critical temperature (21 °C), favors the overwinter survival of this species when only limited food storage is available.

This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: