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Heterothermy is associated with reduced fitness in wild rabbits.

ABSTRACT: An increase in variation in the 24 h pattern of body temperature (heterothermy) in mammals can be induced by energy and water deficits. Since performance traits such as growth and reproduction also are impacted by energy and water balance, we investigated whether the characteristics of the body temperature rhythm provide an indication of the reproductive success of an individual. We show that the amplitude of the daily rhythm of body temperature in wild rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) prior to breeding is inversely related to the number of pregnancies in the subsequent seven months, while the minimum daily body temperature is positively correlated to the number of pregnancies. Because reproductive output could be predicted from characteristics of the core body temperature rhythm prior to the breeding season, we propose that the pattern of the 24 h body temperature rhythm could provide an index of animal fitness in a given environment.

SUBMITTER: Maloney SK

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5746534 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Heterothermy is associated with reduced fitness in wild rabbits.

Maloney Shane K SK Marsh Maija K MK McLeod Steven R SR Fuller Andrea A

Biology letters 20171201 12

An increase in variation in the 24 h pattern of body temperature (heterothermy) in mammals can be induced by energy and water deficits. Since performance traits such as growth and reproduction also are impacted by energy and water balance, we investigated whether the characteristics of the body temperature rhythm provide an indication of the reproductive success of an individual. We show that the amplitude of the daily rhythm of body temperature in wild rabbits (<i>Oryctolagus cuniculus</i>) pri ...[more]

PMID: 29212751

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Project description:Abstract Animals have adapted behavioral and physiological strategies to conserve energy during periods of adverse conditions. Heterothermy is one such adaptation used by endotherms. While heterothermy—fluctuations in body temperature and metabolic rate—has been shown in large vertebrates, little is known of the costs and benefits of this strategy, both in terms of energy and in terms of fitness. Hence, our objective was to model the energetics of seasonal heterothermy in the largest Arctic ungulate, the muskox (Ovibos moschatus), using an individual?based energy budget model of metabolic physiology. We found that the empirically based drop in body temperature (winter max ~?0.8°C) overwinter in adult females resulted in substantial fitness benefits in terms of reduced daily energy expenditure and body mass loss. Body mass and energy reserves were 8.98% and 14.46% greater in modeled heterotherms compared to normotherms by end of winter. Based on environmental simulations, we show that seasonal heterothermy can, to some extent, buffer the negative consequences of poor prewinter body condition or reduced winter food accessibility, leading to greater winter survival (+20%–30%) and spring energy reserves (+10%–30%), and thus increased probability of future reproductive success. These results indicate substantial adaptive short?term benefits of seasonal heterothermy at the individual level, with potential implications for long?term population dynamics in highly seasonal environments. Animals use seasonal heterothermy to conserve energy during periods of adverse environmental conditions. Our energy budget model of muskoxen reveals considerable fitness benefits of overwinter heterothermy in the form of conserved body mass, energy reserves, and increased survival, relative to simulated normothermic individuals. Individual energetics and fitness consequences of heterothermy could have implications for population dynamics. Photo credit: Lars Holst Hansen.

Dataset Information

Heterothermy is associated with reduced fitness in wild rabbits.

Publications

Heterothermy is associated with reduced fitness in wild rabbits.

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