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Body Mass and Tail Girth Predict Hibernation Expression in Captive Dwarf Lemurs.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Blanco, MB; Greene, LK; Klopfer, PH; Lynch, D; Browning, J; Ehmke, EE; Yoder, AD
Published in: Physiological and biochemical zoology : PBZ
March 2022

AbstractHibernation, a metabolic strategy, allows individuals to reduce energetic demands in times of energetic deficits. Hibernation is pervasive in nature, occurring in all major mammalian lineages and geographical regions; however, its expression is variable across species, populations, and individuals, suggesting that trade-offs are at play. Whereas hibernation reduces energy expenditure, energetically expensive arousals may impose physiological burdens. The torpor optimization hypothesis posits that hibernation should be expressed according to energy availability. The greater the energy surplus, the lower the hibernation output. The thrifty female hypothesis, a variation of the torpor optimization hypothesis, states that females should conserve more energy because of their more substantial reproductive costs. Contrarily, if hibernation's benefits offset its costs, hibernation may be maximized rather than optimized (e.g., hibernators with greater fat reserves could afford to hibernate longer). We assessed torpor expression in captive dwarf lemurs, primates that are obligate, seasonal, and tropical hibernators. Across 4.5 mo in winter, we subjected eight individuals at the Duke Lemur Center to conditions conducive to hibernation, recorded estimates of skin temperature hourly (a proxy for torpor), and determined body mass and tail fat reserves bimonthly. Across and between consecutive weigh-ins, heavier dwarf lemurs spent less time in torpor and lost more body mass. At equivalent body mass, females spent more time torpid and better conserved energy than did males. Although preliminary, our results support the torpor optimization and thrifty female hypotheses, suggesting that individuals optimize rather than maximize torpor according to body mass. These patterns are consistent with hibernation phenology in Madagascar, where dwarf lemurs hibernate longer in more seasonal habitats.

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Published In

Physiological and biochemical zoology : PBZ

DOI

EISSN

1537-5293

ISSN

1522-2152

Publication Date

March 2022

Volume

95

Issue

2

Start / End Page

122 / 129

Related Subject Headings

  • Torpor
  • Tail
  • Seasons
  • Physiology
  • Ornithology
  • Mammals
  • Male
  • Hibernation
  • Female
  • Energy Metabolism
 

Citation

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ICMJE
MLA
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Blanco, M. B., Greene, L. K., Klopfer, P. H., Lynch, D., Browning, J., Ehmke, E. E., & Yoder, A. D. (2022). Body Mass and Tail Girth Predict Hibernation Expression in Captive Dwarf Lemurs. Physiological and Biochemical Zoology : PBZ, 95(2), 122–129. https://doi.org/10.1086/718222
Blanco, Marina B., Lydia K. Greene, Peter H. Klopfer, Danielle Lynch, Jenna Browning, Erin E. Ehmke, and Anne D. Yoder. “Body Mass and Tail Girth Predict Hibernation Expression in Captive Dwarf Lemurs.Physiological and Biochemical Zoology : PBZ 95, no. 2 (March 2022): 122–29. https://doi.org/10.1086/718222.
Blanco MB, Greene LK, Klopfer PH, Lynch D, Browning J, Ehmke EE, et al. Body Mass and Tail Girth Predict Hibernation Expression in Captive Dwarf Lemurs. Physiological and biochemical zoology : PBZ. 2022 Mar;95(2):122–9.
Blanco, Marina B., et al. “Body Mass and Tail Girth Predict Hibernation Expression in Captive Dwarf Lemurs.Physiological and Biochemical Zoology : PBZ, vol. 95, no. 2, Mar. 2022, pp. 122–29. Epmc, doi:10.1086/718222.
Blanco MB, Greene LK, Klopfer PH, Lynch D, Browning J, Ehmke EE, Yoder AD. Body Mass and Tail Girth Predict Hibernation Expression in Captive Dwarf Lemurs. Physiological and biochemical zoology : PBZ. 2022 Mar;95(2):122–129.
Journal cover image

Published In

Physiological and biochemical zoology : PBZ

DOI

EISSN

1537-5293

ISSN

1522-2152

Publication Date

March 2022

Volume

95

Issue

2

Start / End Page

122 / 129

Related Subject Headings

  • Torpor
  • Tail
  • Seasons
  • Physiology
  • Ornithology
  • Mammals
  • Male
  • Hibernation
  • Female
  • Energy Metabolism