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dc.contributor.authorBarker, Justine
dc.contributor.authorCooper, Christine
dc.contributor.authorWithers, Philip
dc.contributor.authorCruz-Neto, A.
dc.date.accessioned2017-01-30T14:33:30Z
dc.date.available2017-01-30T14:33:30Z
dc.date.created2013-01-23T20:00:26Z
dc.date.issued2012
dc.identifier.citationBarker, Justine and Cooper, Christine and Withers, Philip and Cruz-Neto, Ariovaldo. 2012. Thermoregulation by an Australian murine rodent, the ash-grey mouse (Pseudomys albocinereus). Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology, Part A. 163 (3-4): pp. 336-342.
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/39416
dc.identifier.doi10.1016/j.cbpa.2012.07.011
dc.description.abstract

We examine here the thermal physiology of the ash-grey mouse, as there is a paucity of data to explain how Australian rodents meet thermoregulatory demands. Most ash-grey mice remained normothermic over a range of ambient temperatures (10 °C to 30 °C), although they became hyperthermic at high ambient temperatures. One individual entered torpor at ambient temperatures of 20 °C and 25 °C, with minimal body temperatures of 24.5 °C and 28.4 °C respectively, before spontaneously arousing. This is the first evidence of torpor use by an Australian murine rodent. Our data suggest that although ash-grey mice have the physiological ability to use torpor, it is used rarely, presumably due to other behavioural and physiological adaptations. Their higher-than-expected basal metabolic rate (1.56 ± 0.25 mL O2 g− 1 h− 1) indicates that ash-grey mice do not have a frugal approach to energy expenditure. Other standard physiological variables were typical of a generalised rodent. A readily-available omnivorous diet, nocturnal activity, semi-fossorial habit and social behaviour presumably allow a high energy lifestyle. A reluctance to use torpor, despite an apparent physiological ability to do so, supports the idea that the use of torpor reflects a net balance between the costs and benefits of a heterothermic thermoregulatory strategy.

dc.publisherElsevier Inc.
dc.subjectWater economy
dc.subjectBody temperature
dc.subjectEvaporative water loss
dc.subjectTorpor
dc.subjectMetabolic rate
dc.subjectHeterothermy
dc.subjectRodent
dc.titleThermoregulation by an Australian murine rodent, the ash-grey mouse (Pseudomys albocinereus)
dc.typeJournal Article
dcterms.source.volume163
dcterms.source.number3-4
dcterms.source.startPage336
dcterms.source.endPage342
dcterms.source.issn1095-6433
dcterms.source.titleComparative Biochemistry and Physiology, Part A
curtin.department
curtin.accessStatusFulltext not available


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