Pronounced daily heterothermy in the White-throated Treecreeper Cormobates leucophaea

Y. Aharon-Rotman; J. F. McEvoy; Christa Beckmann; F. Geiser

doi:10.1007/s10336-023-02092-6

Pronounced daily heterothermy in the White-throated Treecreeper Cormobates leucophaea

Y. Aharon-Rotman, J. F. McEvoy, Christa Beckmann, F. Geiser

Western Sydney University

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Torpor, a controlled reduction in metabolism and body temperature, reduces energy expenditure substantially. However, torpor expression in wild passerines is currently understudied. We show that skin temperature (Ts) of resting White-throated Treecreepers (N=4) fell by ~ 5 °C on average in both summer and winter, independent of ambient temperature, but we could not confirm torpor use (Ts reduction>5 °C). It is possible that roosting in tree hollows provides sufficient insulation to minimise energy loss, or torpor is used only during extreme conditions. Further studies are needed to characterise the physiological flexibilities of species and, therefore, their capability to cope with changing environmental conditions.

Original language	English
Number of pages	5
Journal	Journal of Ornithology
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s10336-023-02092-6
Publication status	Published - Jan 2024

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abstract = "Torpor, a controlled reduction in metabolism and body temperature, reduces energy expenditure substantially. However, torpor expression in wild passerines is currently understudied. We show that skin temperature (Ts) of resting White-throated Treecreepers (N=4) fell by ~ 5 °C on average in both summer and winter, independent of ambient temperature, but we could not confirm torpor use (Ts reduction>5 °C). It is possible that roosting in tree hollows provides sufficient insulation to minimise energy loss, or torpor is used only during extreme conditions. Further studies are needed to characterise the physiological flexibilities of species and, therefore, their capability to cope with changing environmental conditions.",

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AU - Geiser, F.

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N2 - Torpor, a controlled reduction in metabolism and body temperature, reduces energy expenditure substantially. However, torpor expression in wild passerines is currently understudied. We show that skin temperature (Ts) of resting White-throated Treecreepers (N=4) fell by ~ 5 °C on average in both summer and winter, independent of ambient temperature, but we could not confirm torpor use (Ts reduction>5 °C). It is possible that roosting in tree hollows provides sufficient insulation to minimise energy loss, or torpor is used only during extreme conditions. Further studies are needed to characterise the physiological flexibilities of species and, therefore, their capability to cope with changing environmental conditions.

AB - Torpor, a controlled reduction in metabolism and body temperature, reduces energy expenditure substantially. However, torpor expression in wild passerines is currently understudied. We show that skin temperature (Ts) of resting White-throated Treecreepers (N=4) fell by ~ 5 °C on average in both summer and winter, independent of ambient temperature, but we could not confirm torpor use (Ts reduction>5 °C). It is possible that roosting in tree hollows provides sufficient insulation to minimise energy loss, or torpor is used only during extreme conditions. Further studies are needed to characterise the physiological flexibilities of species and, therefore, their capability to cope with changing environmental conditions.

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JO - Journal of Ornithology

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Pronounced daily heterothermy in the White-throated Treecreeper Cormobates leucophaea

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