scholarly journals Body-Temperature and Diurnal Activity Patterns in the Platypus (Ornithorhynchus-Anatinus) During Winter

1992 ◽  
Vol 40 (2) ◽  
pp. 135 ◽  
Author(s):  
GC Grigg ◽  
L Beard ◽  
TR Grant ◽  
M Augee

Using implanted radiotransmitters, we monitored body temperatures in five platypuses ranging freely in the Thredbo River in Australia's southern alps between April and October 1988, where the water gets as cold as any that a platypus is likely to encounter. Activity pattern showed a distinct daily cycle. No evidence of hibernation or even brief periods of torpor was found, all individuals maintaining body temperatures close to 32-degrees-C throughout the winter (mean+/-s.d., 32.08 +/- 0.75-degrees-C, range 29.2-34.6-degrees-C, n = 2237). No differences were found between the means or the variances of body temperatures of animals during day-time rest in stream-bank burrows and those during night-time foraging in winter at temperatures as low as 1.0-degrees-C.

1998 ◽  
Vol 46 (4) ◽  
pp. 317 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gavin S. Bedford ◽  
Keith A. Christian

Pythons have standard metabolic rates and preferred body temperatures that are lower than those of most other reptiles. This study investigated metabolic rates and preferred body temperatures of seven taxa of Australian pythons. We found that Australian pythons have particularly low metabolic rates when compared with other boid snakes, and that the metabolic rates of the pythons did not change either seasonally or on a daily cycle. Preferred body temperatures do vary seasonally in some species but not in others. Across all species and seasons, the preferred body temperature range was only 4.9˚C. The thermal sensitivity (Q10) of oxygen consumption by pythons conformed to the established range of between 2 and 3. Allometric equations for the pooled python data at each of the experimental temperatures gave an equation exponent of 0.72–0.76, which is similar to previously reported values. By having low preferred body temperatures and low metabolic rates, pythons appear to be able to conserve energy while still maintaining a vigilant ‘sit and wait’ predatory existence. These physiological attributes would allow pythons to maximise the time they can spend ‘sitting and waiting’ in the pursuit of prey.


1991 ◽  
Vol 69 (3) ◽  
pp. 776-782 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dominique Pépin ◽  
Christophe Abegg ◽  
Cécile Richard

We compared diurnal activity patterns of isards (Rupicapra pyrenaica) within female herds around the time of parturition in a Pyrenean reserve. From mid-April to mid-May, i.e., at the end of the gestation period, adult females spent significantly more time foraging (76 vs. 65%) and less time resting than yearlings did. From mid-June to mid-July, after the birth of kids, adult females and yearlings had exactly the same time budget (62% for foraging) and the same activity pattern, with a well-marked resting phase at midday. Analysis of data at 15-min intervals indicated synchronism in activity when animals leave the area by crossing the crest line, or when arriving at their foraging or resting phases. During the 2 first months of their life, kids had a polyphasic diurnal activity pattern characterized by four distinct foraging phases 4 h apart, and three peaks in resting activity between midday and evening. Nevertheless, some behavioural and physiological mechanisms permitted kids to synchronize their activity with that of other herd members.


2001 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 169 ◽  
Author(s):  
C Arrese ◽  
PB Runham

ANIMALS are commonly separated into two major categories based on their activity patterns: diurnal and nocturnal. However, evidence of numerous species exhibiting diverse periods of activity, including arhythmic and crepuscular habits, broadens the description. The honey possum (Tarsipes rostratus), a small West-Australian marsupial feeding exclusively on nectar and pollen, has been described as strongly nocturnal (Wooller et al. 1981; Russell and Renfree 1989). However, infrequent daytime activity in captivity (Russell 1986) and in the wild under cold, cloudy conditions, has been reported (Hopper and Burbidge 1982; du Plessis and du Plessis 1995). During trapping exercises in the region of Jurien Bay (250 km north of Perth, Western Australia), several animals were observed foraging after sunrise and before sunset, with occasional diurnal activity. To date, no study has investigated directly the activity periods of the species. Furthermore, studies of the visual capabilities of T. rostratus revealed that its retinal organisation is not compatible with a nocturnal lifestyle, but presents features comparable to those found in diurnal species (Arrese 2002; Arrese et al. 2002). Such discrepancies warranted the monitoring of activity periods (rhythmicity) of T. rostratus in its natural environment, a study reported here. We discuss our results in the context of the visual ecology of the species.


2007 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 235-246 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marianne Renner ◽  
Víctor Cussac ◽  
Nora Ibargüengoytía ◽  
Carla Piantoni ◽  
Jorgelina Boretto

AbstractNocturnal lizards show a complex adaptation to environmental temperature. They obtain heat from the substratum, using daytime for performing physiological functions inside thermally suitable shelters, and night-time which involves locomotion and loss of heat for capturing prey. Homonota darwini, the southernmost geckonid in the world, is a small nocturnal insectivorous gecko that occurs in saxicolous habitats of Patagonia, Argentina. Geckos were captured by hand during the day on a rocky hill near Bariloche (Río Negro, Argentina) in spring and summer. All the geckos were active during daytime and had good limb mobility with a median body temperature of 23°C. Body temperatures showed a direct dependence on the temperature of the roof of the shelter and on the air temperature. Geckos were made to run on a horizontal track and running speed was measured in two experiments: long runs (1 m) and sprint runs (0.20 m) during the day (diurnal) and at night (nocturnal). Speed was significantly greater in sprints than in long runs and speed increased with body temperature, reaching a maximum at a body temperature of 22°C. Thus, we conclude that, although the low temperatures of Patagonia impose heavy constraints on the physiological performance of Homonota darwini, they have a peculiar arrangement of mechanical and biochemical abilities which allows for resource acquisition at night, using cryptic habits and short sprint runs.


2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 366-376
Author(s):  
Lorenzo Tonetti ◽  
Federico Camilli ◽  
Sara Giovagnoli ◽  
Vincenzo Natale ◽  
Alessandra Lugaresi

Early multiple sclerosis (MS) predictive markers of disease activity/prognosis have been proposed but are not universally accepted. Aim of this pilot prospective study is to verify whether a peculiar hyperactivity, observed at baseline (T0) in early relapsing-remitting (RR) MS patients, could represent a further prognostic marker. Here we report results collected at T0 and at a 24-month follow-up (T1). Eighteen RRMS patients (11 females, median Expanded Disability Status Scale-EDSS score 1.25, range EDSS score 0–2) were monitored at T0 (mean age 32.33 ± 7.51) and T1 (median EDSS score 1.5, range EDSS score 0–2.5). Patients were grouped into two groups: responders (R, 14 patients) and non-responders (NR, 4 patients) to treatment at T1. Each patient wore an actigraph for one week to record the 24-h motor activity pattern. At T0, NR presented significantly lower motor activity than R between around 9:00 and 13:00. At T1, NR were characterized by significantly lower motor activity than R between around 12:00 and 17:00. Overall, these data suggest that through the 24-h motor activity pattern, we can fairly segregate at T0 patients who will show a therapeutic failure, possibly related to a more active disease, at T1. These patients are characterized by a reduced morning level of motor activation. Further studies on larger populations are needed to confirm these preliminary findings.


1996 ◽  
Vol 47 (2) ◽  
pp. 157 ◽  
Author(s):  
PC Rothlisberg ◽  
PD Craig ◽  
JR Andrewartha

A 3-dimensional numerical circulation model was linked to four larval-postlarval behaviour patterns to establish the origins of postlarvae recruiting into the estuaries adjacent to Albatross Bay, Gulf of Carpentaria, Australia. The area from which these postlarvae originate is called the 'advective envelope' and it delimits the spatial extent of the effective spawning population. The different behaviour scenarios vary the amount of time the postlarvae are active during the flood tide and the depth at which they change between their diel and tidal activity patterns (transition depth). The envelope with a behaviour scenario that incorporated a 20 m transition depth and a 3 h tidal activity pattern was 1000 km2. Incorporation of seasonal winds changed the shape but not the extent of the advective envelopes.


1991 ◽  
Vol 69 (7) ◽  
pp. 1842-1847 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gregory K. Snyder ◽  
Joseph R. Coelho ◽  
Dalan R. Jensen

In chicks the ability to regulate body temperature to adult levels develops during the first 2 weeks of life. We examined whether the ability of young chicks to regulate body temperature is increased by elevated levels of the thyroid hormone 3,3′5-triiodothyronine. By 13 days following hatch, body temperatures of chicks were not significantly different from those expected for adult birds. Furthermore, at an ambient temperature of 10 °C, 13-day-old control chicks were able to maintain body temperature, and elevated serum thyroid hormone levels did not increase rates of oxygen consumption or body temperature above control values. Six-day-old chicks had body temperatures that were significantly lower than those of the 13-day-old chicks and were not able to regulate body temperature when exposed to an ambient temperature of 10 °C. On the other hand, 6-day-old chicks with elevated serum thyroid hormone had significantly higher rates of oxygen consumption than 6-day-old control chicks, and were able to maintain constant body temperatures during cold exposure. The increased oxygen consumption rates and improved ability to regulate body temperature during cold exposure were correlated with increased citrate synthase activity in skeletal muscle. Our results support the argument that thyroid hormones play an important role in the development of thermoregulatory ability in neonate birds by stimulating enzyme activities associated with aerobic metabolism.


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 543-549
Author(s):  
Helmy Yudhistira Putra ◽  
Utomo Budiyanto

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the price of preventive equipment such as masks and hand sanitizers has increased significantly. Likewise, thermometers are experiencing an increase and scarcity, this tool is also sought after by many companies for screening employees and guests before entering the building to detect body temperatures that are suspected of being positive for COVID-19. The use of a thermometer operated by humans is very risky because dealing directly with people who could be ODP (People Under Monitoring/Suscpected ) or even positive for COVID-19, therefore we need tools for automatic body temperature screening and do not involve humans for the examination. This research uses the MLX-90614 body temperature sensor equipped with an ultrasonic support sensor to detect movement and measure the distance between the forehead and the temperature sensor so that the body heat measurement works optimally, and a 16x2 LCD to display the temperature measurement results. If the measured body temperature is more than 37.5 ° C degrees Celsius then the buzzer will turn on and the selenoid door lock will not open and will send a notification to the Telegram messaging application. The final result obtained is the formation of a prototype device for measuring body temperature automatically without the need to involve humans in measuring body temperature to control people who want to enter the building so as to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission


2003 ◽  
Vol 63 (3) ◽  
pp. 537-544 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Turra ◽  
M. R. Denadai

This study describes the daily activity in a simulated high tide situation of four species of hermit crabs (Pagurus criniticornis, Clibanarius antillensis, C. sclopetarius, and C. vittatus) that coexist in an intertidal flat in southeastern Brazil. Observations were done in two-hour intervals during two subsequent days (48 h) in three replicate pools with thirty crabs each. Among species (between and within genera) there was an evident variation in activity patterns, of which three could be distinguished. The circadian activity patterns of C. antillensis and C. vittatus could be characterized as evening and nocturnal, with resting peaks during the morning and afternoon. The circadian activity pattern of C. sclopetarius was characterized by two marked peaks of inactivity, corresponding to dawn and evening, which could represent an intrinsic association with the semi-lunar tidal cycles of the study area. Pagurus criniticornis showed high activity not influenced by day/night conditions during the entire observed period. These activity pattern variations of the studied hermit crabs should be taken into account in designing further experiments. More precise and accurate interspecific behavioral comparisons among species could be achieved in nocturnal experiments, the high activity period of all species.


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