Hibernation of a Southern Subspecies of Tamias striatus: Thermoregulatory Patterns

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Abstract
Body temperatures of 8 individuals of the southern subspecies of the Eastern chipmunk (T. striatus striatus) were monitored during hibernation via biotelemetry. The hibernation period was composed of a test drop, preplateau and plateau stage. Body temperatures attained during torpor in the preplateau and plateau stages were approximately 1.degree. C above ambient levels. Duration of bouts of torpor during the plateau stage increased linearly with a decrease in ambient (and body) temperature [Ta] (duration in h = 148.4 - 6.77Ta), and the duration of arousal periods decreased slightly with decrease in Ta (duration in h = 10.50 + 0.44Ta). Comparison of these regression analyses with data obtained for northern subspecies T. striatus griseus yielded no significant differences in slope or intercept.

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