<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN"
"http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd">
<html>
<head>
<title>UTas ePrints - The timing of hibernation in Tasmanian echidnas: why do they do it when they do?</title>
<script type="text/javascript" src="http://eprints.utas.edu.au/javascript/auto.js"><!-- padder --></script>
<style type="text/css" media="screen">@import url(http://eprints.utas.edu.au/style/auto.css);</style>
<style type="text/css" media="print">@import url(http://eprints.utas.edu.au/style/print.css);</style>
<link rel="icon" href="/images/eprints/favicon.ico" type="image/x-icon" />
<link rel="shortcut icon" href="/images/eprints/favicon.ico" type="image/x-icon" />
<link rel="Top" href="http://eprints.utas.edu.au/" />
<link rel="Search" href="http://eprints.utas.edu.au/cgi/search" />
<meta content="Nicol, Stewart C." name="eprints.creators_name" />
<meta content="Andersen, Niels A." name="eprints.creators_name" />
<meta content="s.c.nicol@utas.edu.au" name="eprints.creators_id" />
<meta name="eprints.creators_id" />
<meta content="article" name="eprints.type" />
<meta content="2007-05-17" name="eprints.datestamp" />
<meta content="2008-02-11T23:15:49Z" name="eprints.lastmod" />
<meta content="show" name="eprints.metadata_visibility" />
<meta content="The timing of hibernation in Tasmanian echidnas: why do they do it when they do?" name="eprints.title" />
<meta content="pub" name="eprints.ispublished" />
<meta content="270604" name="eprints.subjects" />
<meta content="270706" name="eprints.subjects" />
<meta content="restricted" name="eprints.full_text_status" />
<meta content="echidna, monotreme, hibernation" name="eprints.keywords" />
<meta content="Definitive version available at http://www.sciencedirect.com/" name="eprints.note" />
<meta content="We investigated the patterns of hibernation and arousals in seven free-ranging echidnas Tachyglossus aculeatus setosus (two male, five female) in Tasmania using implanted temperature data loggers. All echidnas showed a 'classical' pattern of mammalian hibernation, with bouts of deep torpor interrupted by periodic arousals to euthermia (mean duration 1.04+/-0.05 (n=146). Torpor bout length increased as body temperature fell during the hibernation season, and became more variable as temperature rose again. Hibernation started in late summer (February 28+/-5 days, n=6) and males aroused just before the winter solstice (June 15+/-3 days, n=3), females that subsequently produced young aroused 40 days later (July 25+/-3, n=4) while females that did not produce young hibernated for a further two months (arousal Sept 27+/-5, n=7). We suggest that hibernation in Tasmanian echidnas can be divided into two phases, the first phase, marked by declining minimum body temperatures as ambient temperature falls, appears to be obligatory for all animals, while the second phase is 'optional' and is utilised to varying amounts by females. We suggest that early arousal and breeding is the favoured option for females in good condition, and that the ability to completely omit breeding in some years, and hibernate through to spring is an adaptation to an uncertain climate." name="eprints.abstract" />
<meta content="2002-04" name="eprints.date" />
<meta content="published" name="eprints.date_type" />
<meta content="Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology - Part B: Biochemistry & Molecular Biology" name="eprints.publication" />
<meta content="131" name="eprints.volume" />
<meta content="4" name="eprints.number" />
<meta content="603-611" name="eprints.pagerange" />
<meta content="10.1016/S1096-4959(02)00018-0" name="eprints.id_number" />
<meta content="UNSPECIFIED" name="eprints.thesis_type" />
<meta content="TRUE" name="eprints.refereed" />
<meta content="1096-4959" name="eprints.issn" />
<meta content="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S1096-4959(02)00018-0" name="eprints.official_url" />
<meta content="Abensperg-Traun, M., 1989. Some observations on the duration of lactation and movements of a Tachyglossus aculeatus acanthion (Monotremata: Tachyglossidae) from Western Australia. Aust. Mamm. 12, 33-34.
Armitage, K. B., 1974. Demography of yellow-bellied marmot populations. Ecology 55, 1233-1245.
Armitage, K. B., Downhower, J. F., 1998. Reproductive strategies of yellow-bellied marmots - energy conservation and differences between the sexes. J. Mamm. 79, 385-393.
Arnold, W., 1993. Energetics of social hibernation. In: Carey, C., Florant, G. L., Wunder, B. A. and Horwitz, B. (Eds.), Life in the Cold: Ecological, Physiological and Molecular Mechanisms, Westview Press, Boulder, pp. 65-80.
Augee, M. L., 1978. Monotremes and the evolution of homeothermy. In: Augee, M. L. (Ed.), Monotreme Biology, Royal Zoological Society NSW, Mosman, pp. 111-121.
Augee, M. L., Ealey, E. H. M., Spencer, H., 1970. Biotelemetry studies of temperature regulation and torpor in the echidna. J. Mamm. 51, 561-570.
Barnes, B. M., 1996. Relationships between hibernation and reproduction in male ground squirrels. In: Geiser, F., Hulbert, A. J. and Nicol, S. C. (Eds.), Adaptations to the Cold: Tenth International Hibernation Symposium, University of New England Press, Armidale, pp. 71-80.
Barnes, B. M., Omtzigt, C., Daan, S., 1993. Hibernators periodically arouse in order to sleep. In: Carey, C., Florant, G. L., Wunder, B. A. and Horwitz, B. (Eds.), Life in the Cold: Ecological, Physiological and Molecular Mechanisms, Westview Press, Boulder, pp. 555-558.
Beard, L. A., Grigg, G. C., Augee, M. L., 1992. Reproduction by echidnas in a cold climate. In: Augee, M. L. (Ed.), Platypus and Echidnas, Royal Zoological Society NSW, Mosman, pp. 93-100.
Beard, L. A., Grigg, G. C., 2000. Reproduction in the short-beaked echidnas, Tachyglossus aculeatus: field observations at an elevated site in south-east Queensland. Proc. Linn.Soc. N.S.W. 122. 89-99.
Blumstein, D. T., Armitage, K. B., 1998. Life history consequences of social complexity - a comparative study of ground-dwelling sciurids. Behavioral Ecology 9, 8-19.
Buck, C. L., Barnes, B. M., 1999. Annual cycle of body composition and hibernation in free-living arctic ground squirrels. J. Mamm. 80, 430-442.
Falkenstein, F., Körtner, G., Geiser, F., 1999. Hibernaculum selection and home range of echidnas (Tachyglossus aculeatus) on the New England Tablelands. Australian Mammal Society Proceedings, 41.
Flannery, T., 1994. The Future Eaters, Reed Books, Melbourne.
French, A. R., 1988. The pattern of mammalian hibernation. Am. Sci. 76, 568-575.
French, A. R., Forand, S., 2000. Role of soil temperature in timing of emergence from hibernation in the jumping mouse, Zapus hudsonius. In: Heldmaier, G. and Klingenspor, M. (Eds.), Life in the Cold: Eleventh International Hibernation Symposium, Springer, Berlin, pp. 111-119.
Geiser, F., 1998. Evolution of daily torpor and hibernation in birds and mammals - importance of body size. Clin. Exp. Pharmacol. Physiol. 25, 736-739.
Geiser, F., Ruf, T., 1995. Hibernation versus daily torpor in mammals and birds: physiological variables and classification of torpor patterns. Physiol. Zool. 68, 935-966.
Geiser, F., Hiebert, S., Kenagy, G. J., 1990. Torpor bout duration during the hibernating season of two sciurid rodents: Interrelations with temperature and metabolism. Physiol. Zool. 63, 489-503.
Green, B., Griffiths, M., Newgrain, K., 1992. Energy costs of lactation in free-living echidnas. In: Augee, M. L. (Ed.), Platypus and Echidnas, Royal Zoological Society NSW, Mosman, pp. 90-92.
Green, B., Griffiths, M., Newgrain, K., 1992. Seasonal patterns in water, sodium and energy turnover in free-living echidnas, Tachyglossus aculeatus (Mammalia: Monotremata). Journal of Zoology 227, 351-365.
Griffiths, M., 1978. The biology of monotremes, Academic Press Inc., New York.
Grigg, G., Beard, L., 2000. Hibernation by echidnas in mlld climates: Hints about the evolution of endothermy. In: Heldmaier, G. and Klingenspor, M. (Eds.), Life in the Cold: Eleventh International Hibernation Symposium, Springer, Berlin, pp. 5-20.
Grigg, G. C., Augee, M. L., Beard, L. A., 1992. Thermal relations of free-living echidnas during activity and in hibernation in a cold climate. In: Augee, M. L. (Ed.), Platypus and Echidnas, Royal Zoological Society NSW, Mosman, pp. 160-173.
Grigg, G. C., Beard, L. A., Augee, M. L., 1989. Hibernation in a monotreme, the echidna Tachyglossus aculeatus. Comp Biochem Physiol A 92, 609-612.
Heller, H. C., Grahn, D. A., Tracsel, L., Larkin, J. E., 1993. What is a bout of hibernation? In: Carey, C., Florant, G. L., Wunder, B. A. and Horwitz, B. (Eds.), Life in the Cold: Ecological, Physiological and Molecular Mechanisms, Westview Press, Boulder, pp. 252-264.
Kenagy, G. J., Masman, D., Sharbaugh, S. M., Nagy, K. A., 1990. Energy expenditure during lactation in relation to litter size in free living golden-mantled ground squirrels. J. Anim. Ecol. 59, 73-88.
Kenagy, G. J., Stevenson, R. D., Masman, D., 1989. Energy requirements for lactation and postnatal growth in captive golden-mantled ground squirrels. Physiol. Zool. 62, 470-487.
Kortner, G., Geiser, F., 1998. Ecology of natural hibernation in the marsupial mountain pygmy-possum (Burramys parvus). Oecologia 113, 170-178.
Lovegrove, B. G., 1996. The low basal metabolic rates of marsupials: the influence of torpor and zoogeography. In: Geiser, F., Hulbert, A. J. and Nicol, S. C. (Eds.), Adaptations to the Cold: Tenth International Hibernation Symposium, University of New England Press, Armidale, pp. 141-151.
Lovegrove, B. G., 2000. The zoogeography of mammalian basal metabolic rate. Am. Nat. 156, 201-219.
Low, B. S., 1978. Environmental uncertainty and the parental strategies of marsupials and placentals. Am. Nat. 112, 197-213.
Lyman, C. P., 1982. Why bother to hibernate? In: Lyman, C. P., Willis, J. S., Malan, A. and Wang, L. C. H. (Eds.), Hibernation and Torpor in Mammals and Birds, Academic Press, New York, pp. 1-10.
Martin, C. J., 1902. Thermal adjustment and respiratory exchange in monotremes and marsupials. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society London series BPhilosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London Series B: Biological Sciences 195, 1-37.
Milewski, A. V., Abensperg-Traun, M., Dickman, C. R., 1994. Why are termite- and ant-eating mammals smaller in Australia than in southern Africa; History or ecology? J. Biogeogr. 21, 529-543.
Nicol, S. C., Andersen, N. A., 1993. The physiology of hibernation in an egg-laying mammal, the echidna. In: Carey, C., Florant, G. F., Wunder, B. A. and Horwitz, B. (Eds.), Life in the Cold III: Ecological, Physiological, and Molecular Mechanisms, Westview Press, , pp. 55-64.
Nicol, S. C., Andersen, N. A., 1996. Hibernation inthe echidna: not an adaptation to cold? In: Geiser, F., Hulbert, A. J. and Nicol, S. C. (Eds.), Adaptations to the Cold: Tenth International Hibernation Symposium, University of New England Press, Armidale, pp. 7-12.
Nicol, S. C., Andersen, N. A., 2000. Patterns of hibernation of echidnas in Tasmania. In: Heldmaier, G. and Klingenspor, M. (Eds.), Life in the Cold: Eleventh International Hibernation Symposium, Springer, Berlin, pp. 21-29.
Rismiller, P. D., 1999. The echidna, Australia's enigma, Hugh Lauter Levin associates inc., Bridgeport Connecticut.
Rismiller, P. D., McKelvey, M. W., 1996. Sex, torpor and activity in temperate climate echidnas. In: Geiser, F., Hulbert, A. J. and Nicol, S. C. (Eds.), Adaptations to the Cold: Tenth International Hibernation Symposium, University of New England Press, Armidale, pp. 23-30.
Rismiller, P. D., McKelvey, M. W., 2000. Frequency of breeding and recruitment in the short-beaked echidna, Tachyglossus aculeatus. J. Mamm. 81, 1-17.
Ruf, T., Arnold, W., 2000. Mechanisms of social thermoregulation in hibernating alpine marmots (Marmota marmota). In: Heldmaier, G. and Klingenspor, M. (Eds.), Life in the cold: Eleventh International Hibernation Symposium, Springer, Berlin, pp. 81-94.
Snyder, R. L., Christian, J. J., 1960. Reproductive cycle and litter size of the woodchuck. Ecology 41, 647-656.
" name="eprints.referencetext" />
<meta content="Nicol, Stewart C. and Andersen, Niels A. (2002) The timing of hibernation in Tasmanian echidnas: why do they do it when they do? Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology - Part B: Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, 131 (4). pp. 603-611. ISSN 1096-4959" name="eprints.citation" />
<meta content="http://eprints.utas.edu.au/1033/1/Nicol_et_al._2002_The_timing_of_hibernation_in_Tasmanian_echidnas_why_do_they_do_it_when_they_do_Comp_Biochem_Physiol_B_Biochem_Mol_Biol.pdf" name="eprints.document_url" />
<link rel="schema.DC" href="http://purl.org/DC/elements/1.0/" />
<meta content="The timing of hibernation in Tasmanian echidnas: why do they do it when they do?" name="DC.title" />
<meta content="Nicol, Stewart C." name="DC.creator" />
<meta content="Andersen, Niels A." name="DC.creator" />
<meta content="270604 Comparative Physiology" name="DC.subject" />
<meta content="270706 Life Histories (incl. Population Ecology)" name="DC.subject" />
<meta content="We investigated the patterns of hibernation and arousals in seven free-ranging echidnas Tachyglossus aculeatus setosus (two male, five female) in Tasmania using implanted temperature data loggers. All echidnas showed a 'classical' pattern of mammalian hibernation, with bouts of deep torpor interrupted by periodic arousals to euthermia (mean duration 1.04+/-0.05 (n=146). Torpor bout length increased as body temperature fell during the hibernation season, and became more variable as temperature rose again. Hibernation started in late summer (February 28+/-5 days, n=6) and males aroused just before the winter solstice (June 15+/-3 days, n=3), females that subsequently produced young aroused 40 days later (July 25+/-3, n=4) while females that did not produce young hibernated for a further two months (arousal Sept 27+/-5, n=7). We suggest that hibernation in Tasmanian echidnas can be divided into two phases, the first phase, marked by declining minimum body temperatures as ambient temperature falls, appears to be obligatory for all animals, while the second phase is 'optional' and is utilised to varying amounts by females. We suggest that early arousal and breeding is the favoured option for females in good condition, and that the ability to completely omit breeding in some years, and hibernate through to spring is an adaptation to an uncertain climate." name="DC.description" />
<meta content="2002-04" name="DC.date" />
<meta content="Article" name="DC.type" />
<meta content="PeerReviewed" name="DC.type" />
<meta content="application/pdf" name="DC.format" />
<meta content="http://eprints.utas.edu.au/1033/1/Nicol_et_al._2002_The_timing_of_hibernation_in_Tasmanian_echidnas_why_do_they_do_it_when_they_do_Comp_Biochem_Physiol_B_Biochem_Mol_Biol.pdf" name="DC.identifier" />
<meta content="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S1096-4959(02)00018-0" name="DC.relation" />
<meta content="Nicol, Stewart C. and Andersen, Niels A. (2002) The timing of hibernation in Tasmanian echidnas: why do they do it when they do? Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology - Part B: Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, 131 (4). pp. 603-611. ISSN 1096-4959" name="DC.identifier" />
<meta content="http://eprints.utas.edu.au/1033/" name="DC.relation" />
<link rel="alternate" href="http://eprints.utas.edu.au/cgi/export/1033/BibTeX/epprod-eprint-1033.bib" title="BibTeX" type="text/plain" />
<link rel="alternate" href="http://eprints.utas.edu.au/cgi/export/1033/ContextObject/epprod-eprint-1033.xml" title="OpenURL ContextObject" type="text/xml" />
<link rel="alternate" href="http://eprints.utas.edu.au/cgi/export/1033/ContextObject::Dissertation/epprod-eprint-1033.xml" title="OpenURL Dissertation" type="text/xml" />
<link rel="alternate" href="http://eprints.utas.edu.au/cgi/export/1033/ContextObject::Journal/epprod-eprint-1033.xml" title="OpenURL Journal" type="text/xml" />
<link rel="alternate" href="http://eprints.utas.edu.au/cgi/export/1033/DC/epprod-eprint-1033.txt" title="Dublin Core" type="text/plain" />
<link rel="alternate" href="http://eprints.utas.edu.au/cgi/export/1033/DIDL/epprod-eprint-1033.xml" title="DIDL" type="text/xml" />
<link rel="alternate" href="http://eprints.utas.edu.au/cgi/export/1033/EndNote/epprod-eprint-1033.enw" title="EndNote" type="text/plain" />
<link rel="alternate" href="http://eprints.utas.edu.au/cgi/export/1033/HTML/epprod-eprint-1033.html" title="HTML Citation" type="text/html; charset=utf-8" />
<link rel="alternate" href="http://eprints.utas.edu.au/cgi/export/1033/METS/epprod-eprint-1033.xml" title="METS" type="text/xml" />
<link rel="alternate" href="http://eprints.utas.edu.au/cgi/export/1033/MODS/epprod-eprint-1033.xml" title="MODS" type="text/xml" />
<link rel="alternate" href="http://eprints.utas.edu.au/cgi/export/1033/RIS/epprod-eprint-1033.ris" title="Reference Manager" type="text/plain" />
<link rel="alternate" href="http://eprints.utas.edu.au/cgi/export/1033/Refer/epprod-eprint-1033.refer" title="Refer" type="text/plain" />
<link rel="alternate" href="http://eprints.utas.edu.au/cgi/export/1033/Simple/epprod-eprint-1033text" title="Simple Metadata" type="text/plain" />
<link rel="alternate" href="http://eprints.utas.edu.au/cgi/export/1033/Text/epprod-eprint-1033.txt" title="ASCII Citation" type="text/plain; charset=utf-8" />
<link rel="alternate" href="http://eprints.utas.edu.au/cgi/export/1033/XML/epprod-eprint-1033.xml" title="EP3 XML" type="text/xml" />
</head>
<body bgcolor="#ffffff" text="#000000" onLoad="loadRoutine(); MM_preloadImages('images/eprints/ePrints_banner_r5_c5_f2.gif','images/eprints/ePrints_banner_r5_c7_f2.gif','images/eprints/ePrints_banner_r5_c8_f2.gif','images/eprints/ePrints_banner_r5_c9_f2.gif','images/eprints/ePrints_banner_r5_c10_f2.gif','images/eprints/ePrints_banner_r5_c11_f2.gif','images/eprints/ePrints_banner_r6_c4_f2.gif')">
<div class="ep_noprint"><noscript><style type="text/css">@import url(http://eprints.utas.edu.au/style/nojs.css);</style></noscript></div>
<table width="795" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<tr>
<td><script language="JavaScript1.2">mmLoadMenus();</script>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="795">
<!-- fwtable fwsrc="eprints_banner_final2.png" fwbase="ePrints_banner.gif" fwstyle="Dreamweaver" fwdocid = "1249563342" fwnested="0" -->
<tr>
<td><img src="/images/eprints/spacer.gif" width="32" height="1" border="0" alt="" /></td>
<td><img src="/images/eprints/spacer.gif" width="104" height="1" border="0" alt="" /></td>
<td><img src="/images/eprints/spacer.gif" width="44" height="1" border="0" alt="" /></td>
<td><img src="/images/eprints/spacer.gif" width="105" height="1" border="0" alt="" /></td>
<td><img src="/images/eprints/spacer.gif" width="41" height="1" border="0" alt="" /></td>
<td><img src="/images/eprints/spacer.gif" width="16" height="1" border="0" alt="" /></td>
<td><img src="/images/eprints/spacer.gif" width="68" height="1" border="0" alt="" /></td>
<td><img src="/images/eprints/spacer.gif" width="68" height="1" border="0" alt="" /></td>
<td><img src="/images/eprints/spacer.gif" width="68" height="1" border="0" alt="" /></td>
<td><img src="/images/eprints/spacer.gif" width="82" height="1" border="0" alt="" /></td>
<td><img src="/images/eprints/spacer.gif" width="69" height="1" border="0" alt="" /></td>
<td><img src="/images/eprints/spacer.gif" width="98" height="1" border="0" alt="" /></td>
<td><img src="/images/eprints/spacer.gif" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" /></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="12"><img name="ePrints_banner_r1_c1" src="/images/eprints/ePrints_banner_r1_c1.gif" width="795" height="10" border="0" alt="" /></td>
<td><img src="/images/eprints/spacer.gif" width="1" height="10" border="0" alt="" /></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td rowspan="6"><img name="ePrints_banner_r2_c1" src="/images/eprints/ePrints_banner_r2_c1.gif" width="32" height="118" border="0" alt="" /></td>
<td rowspan="5"><a href="http://www.utas.edu.au/"><img name="ePrints_banner_r2_c2" src="/images/eprints/ePrints_banner_r2_c2.gif" width="104" height="103" border="0" alt="" /></a></td>
<td colspan="10"><img name="ePrints_banner_r2_c3" src="/images/eprints/ePrints_banner_r2_c3.gif" width="659" height="41" border="0" alt="" /></td>
<td><img src="/images/eprints/spacer.gif" width="1" height="41" border="0" alt="" /></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="3"><a href="http://eprints.utas.edu.au/"><img name="ePrints_banner_r3_c3" src="/images/eprints/ePrints_banner_r3_c3.gif" width="190" height="31" border="0" alt="" /></a></td>
<td rowspan="2" colspan="7"><img name="ePrints_banner_r3_c6" src="/images/eprints/ePrints_banner_r3_c6.gif" width="469" height="37" border="0" alt="" /></td>
<td><img src="/images/eprints/spacer.gif" width="1" height="31" border="0" alt="" /></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="3"><img name="ePrints_banner_r4_c3" src="/images/eprints/ePrints_banner_r4_c3.gif" width="190" height="6" border="0" alt="" /></td>
<td><img src="/images/eprints/spacer.gif" width="1" height="6" border="0" alt="" /></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="2"><img name="ePrints_banner_r5_c3" src="/images/eprints/ePrints_banner_r5_c3.gif" width="149" height="1" border="0" alt="" /></td>
<td rowspan="2" colspan="2"><a href="/information.html" onMouseOut="MM_swapImgRestore();MM_startTimeout()" onMouseOver="MM_showMenu(window.mm_menu_0821132634_0,0,25,null,'ePrints_banner_r5_c5');MM_swapImage('ePrints_banner_r5_c5','','/images/eprints/ePrints_banner_r5_c5_f2.gif',1);"><img name="ePrints_banner_r5_c5" src="/images/eprints/ePrints_banner_r5_c5.gif" width="57" height="25" border="0" alt="About" /></a></td>
<td rowspan="2"><a href="/view/" onMouseOut="MM_swapImgRestore();MM_startTimeout()" onMouseOver="MM_showMenu(window.mm_menu_0821133021_1,0,25,null,'ePrints_banner_r5_c7');MM_swapImage('ePrints_banner_r5_c7','','/images/eprints/ePrints_banner_r5_c7_f2.gif',1);"><img name="ePrints_banner_r5_c7" src="/images/eprints/ePrints_banner_r5_c7.gif" width="68" height="25" border="0" alt="Browse" /></a></td>
<td rowspan="2"><a href="/perl/search/simple" onMouseOut="MM_swapImgRestore();MM_startTimeout()" onMouseOver="MM_showMenu(window.mm_menu_0821133201_2,0,25,null,'ePrints_banner_r5_c8');MM_swapImage('ePrints_banner_r5_c8','','/images/eprints/ePrints_banner_r5_c8_f2.gif',1);"><img name="ePrints_banner_r5_c8" src="/images/eprints/ePrints_banner_r5_c8.gif" width="68" height="25" border="0" alt="Search" /></a></td>
<td rowspan="2"><a href="/perl/register" onMouseOut="MM_swapImgRestore();MM_startTimeout();" onMouseOver="MM_showMenu(window.mm_menu_1018171924_3,0,25,null,'ePrints_banner_r5_c9');MM_swapImage('ePrints_banner_r5_c9','','/images/eprints/ePrints_banner_r5_c9_f2.gif',1);"><img name="ePrints_banner_r5_c9" src="/images/eprints/ePrints_banner_r5_c9.gif" width="68" height="25" border="0" alt="register" /></a></td>
<td rowspan="2"><a href="/perl/users/home" onMouseOut="MM_swapImgRestore();MM_startTimeout()" onMouseOver="MM_showMenu(window.mm_menu_0821133422_4,0,25,null,'ePrints_banner_r5_c10');MM_swapImage('ePrints_banner_r5_c10','','/images/eprints/ePrints_banner_r5_c10_f2.gif',1);"><img name="ePrints_banner_r5_c10" src="/images/eprints/ePrints_banner_r5_c10.gif" width="82" height="25" border="0" alt="user area" /></a></td>
<td rowspan="2"><a href="/help/" onMouseOut="MM_swapImgRestore();MM_startTimeout()" onMouseOver="MM_showMenu(window.mm_menu_0821133514_5,0,25,null,'ePrints_banner_r5_c11');MM_swapImage('ePrints_banner_r5_c11','','/images/eprints/ePrints_banner_r5_c11_f2.gif',1);"><img name="ePrints_banner_r5_c11" src="/images/eprints/ePrints_banner_r5_c11.gif" width="69" height="25" border="0" alt="Help" /></a></td>
<td rowspan="3" colspan="4"><img name="ePrints_banner_r5_c12" src="/images/eprints/ePrints_banner_r5_c12.gif" width="98" height="40" border="0" alt="" /></td>
<td><img src="/images/eprints/spacer.gif" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" /></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td rowspan="2"><img name="ePrints_banner_r6_c3" src="/images/eprints/ePrints_banner_r6_c3.gif" width="44" height="39" border="0" alt="ePrints home" /></td>
<td><a href="/" onMouseOut="MM_swapImgRestore()" onMouseOver="MM_swapImage('ePrints_banner_r6_c4','','/images/eprints/ePrints_banner_r6_c4_f2.gif',1);"><img name="ePrints_banner_r6_c4" src="/images/eprints/ePrints_banner_r6_c4.gif" width="105" height="24" border="0" alt="ePrints home" /></a></td>
<td><img src="/images/eprints/spacer.gif" width="1" height="24" border="0" alt="" /></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><img name="ePrints_banner_r7_c2" src="/images/eprints/ePrints_banner_r7_c2.gif" width="104" height="15" border="0" alt="" /></td>
<td colspan="8"><img name="ePrints_banner_r7_c4" src="/images/eprints/ePrints_banner_r7_c4.gif" width="517" height="15" border="0" alt="" /></td>
<td><img src="/images/eprints/spacer.gif" width="1" height="15" border="0" alt="" /></td>
</tr>
</table></td>
</tr>
<tr><td><table width="100%" style="font-size: 90%; border: solid 1px #ccc; padding: 3px"><tr>
<td align="left"><a href="http://eprints.utas.edu.au/cgi/users/home">Login</a> | <a href="http://eprints.utas.edu.au/cgi/register">Create Account</a></td>
<td align="right" style="white-space: nowrap">
<form method="get" accept-charset="utf-8" action="http://eprints.utas.edu.au/cgi/search" style="display:inline">
<input class="ep_tm_searchbarbox" size="20" type="text" name="q" />
<input class="ep_tm_searchbarbutton" value="Search" type="submit" name="_action_search" />
<input type="hidden" name="_order" value="bytitle" />
<input type="hidden" name="basic_srchtype" value="ALL" />
<input type="hidden" name="_satisfyall" value="ALL" />
</form>
</td>
</tr></table></td></tr>
<tr>
<td class="toplinks"><!-- InstanceBeginEditable name="content" -->
<div align="center">
<table width="720" class="ep_tm_main"><tr><td align="left">
<h1 class="ep_tm_pagetitle">The timing of hibernation in Tasmanian echidnas: why do they do it when they do?</h1>
<p style="margin-bottom: 1em" class="not_ep_block"><span class="person_name">Nicol, Stewart C.</span> and <span class="person_name">Andersen, Niels A.</span> (2002) <xhtml:em>The timing of hibernation in Tasmanian echidnas: why do they do it when they do?</xhtml:em> Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology - Part B: Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, 131 (4). pp. 603-611. ISSN 1096-4959</p><p style="margin-bottom: 1em" class="not_ep_block"></p><table style="margin-bottom: 1em" class="not_ep_block"><tr><td valign="top" style="text-align:center"><a href="http://eprints.utas.edu.au/1033/1/Nicol_et_al._2002_The_timing_of_hibernation_in_Tasmanian_echidnas_why_do_they_do_it_when_they_do_Comp_Biochem_Physiol_B_Biochem_Mol_Biol.pdf"><img alt="[img]" src="http://eprints.utas.edu.au/style/images/fileicons/application_pdf.png" border="0" class="ep_doc_icon" /></a></td><td valign="top"><a href="http://eprints.utas.edu.au/1033/1/Nicol_et_al._2002_The_timing_of_hibernation_in_Tasmanian_echidnas_why_do_they_do_it_when_they_do_Comp_Biochem_Physiol_B_Biochem_Mol_Biol.pdf"><span class="ep_document_citation">PDF</span></a> - Full text restricted - Requires a PDF viewer<br />368Kb</td><td><form method="get" accept-charset="utf-8" action="http://eprints.utas.edu.au/cgi/request_doc"><input value="1186" name="docid" accept-charset="utf-8" type="hidden" /><div class=""><input value="Request a copy" name="_action_null" class="ep_form_action_button" onclick="return EPJS_button_pushed( '_action_null' )" type="submit" /> </div></form></td></tr></table><p style="margin-bottom: 1em" class="not_ep_block">Official URL: <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S1096-4959(02)00018-0">http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S1096-4959(02)00018-0</a></p><div class="not_ep_block"><h2>Abstract</h2><p style="padding-bottom: 16px; text-align: left; margin: 1em auto 0em auto">We investigated the patterns of hibernation and arousals in seven free-ranging echidnas Tachyglossus aculeatus setosus (two male, five female) in Tasmania using implanted temperature data loggers. All echidnas showed a 'classical' pattern of mammalian hibernation, with bouts of deep torpor interrupted by periodic arousals to euthermia (mean duration 1.04+/-0.05 (n=146). Torpor bout length increased as body temperature fell during the hibernation season, and became more variable as temperature rose again. Hibernation started in late summer (February 28+/-5 days, n=6) and males aroused just before the winter solstice (June 15+/-3 days, n=3), females that subsequently produced young aroused 40 days later (July 25+/-3, n=4) while females that did not produce young hibernated for a further two months (arousal Sept 27+/-5, n=7). We suggest that hibernation in Tasmanian echidnas can be divided into two phases, the first phase, marked by declining minimum body temperatures as ambient temperature falls, appears to be obligatory for all animals, while the second phase is 'optional' and is utilised to varying amounts by females. We suggest that early arousal and breeding is the favoured option for females in good condition, and that the ability to completely omit breeding in some years, and hibernate through to spring is an adaptation to an uncertain climate.</p></div><table style="margin-bottom: 1em" border="0" cellpadding="3" class="not_ep_block"><tr><th valign="top" class="ep_row">Item Type:</th><td valign="top" class="ep_row">Article</td></tr><tr><th valign="top" class="ep_row">Additional Information:</th><td valign="top" class="ep_row">Definitive version available at http://www.sciencedirect.com/</td></tr><tr><th valign="top" class="ep_row">Keywords:</th><td valign="top" class="ep_row">echidna, monotreme, hibernation</td></tr><tr><th valign="top" class="ep_row">Subjects:</th><td valign="top" class="ep_row"><a href="http://eprints.utas.edu.au/view/subjects/270604.html">270000 Biological Sciences > 270600 Physiology > 270604 Comparative Physiology</a><br /><a href="http://eprints.utas.edu.au/view/subjects/270706.html">270000 Biological Sciences > 270700 Ecology and Evolution > 270706 Life Histories (incl. Population Ecology)</a></td></tr><tr><th valign="top" class="ep_row">Collections:</th><td valign="top" class="ep_row">UNSPECIFIED</td></tr><tr><th valign="top" class="ep_row">ID Code:</th><td valign="top" class="ep_row">1033</td></tr><tr><th valign="top" class="ep_row">Deposited By:</th><td valign="top" class="ep_row"><span class="ep_name_citation"><span class="person_name">Associate Professor Stewart C. Nicol</span></span></td></tr><tr><th valign="top" class="ep_row">Deposited On:</th><td valign="top" class="ep_row">17 May 2007</td></tr><tr><th valign="top" class="ep_row">Last Modified:</th><td valign="top" class="ep_row">12 Feb 2008 10:15</td></tr><tr><th valign="top" class="ep_row">ePrint Statistics:</th><td valign="top" class="ep_row"><a target="ePrintStats" href="/es/index.php?action=show_detail_eprint;id=1033;">View statistics for this ePrint</a></td></tr></table><p align="right">Repository Staff Only: <a href="http://eprints.utas.edu.au/cgi/users/home?screen=EPrint::View&eprintid=1033">item control page</a></p>
</td></tr></table>
</div>
<!-- InstanceEndEditable --></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><!-- #BeginLibraryItem "/Library/footer_eprints.lbi" -->
<table width="795" border="0" align="left" cellpadding="0" class="footer">
<tr valign="top">
<td colspan="2"><div align="center"><a href="http://www.utas.edu.au">UTAS home</a> | <a href="http://www.utas.edu.au/library/">Library home</a> | <a href="/">ePrints home</a> | <a href="/contact.html">contact</a> | <a href="/information.html">about</a> | <a href="/view/">browse</a> | <a href="/perl/search/simple">search</a> | <a href="/perl/register">register</a> | <a href="/perl/users/home">user area</a> | <a href="/help/">help</a></div><br /></td>
</tr>
<tr><td colspan="2"><p><img src="/images/eprints/footerline.gif" width="100%" height="4" /></p></td></tr>
<tr valign="top">
<td width="68%" class="footer">Authorised by the University Librarian<br />
© University of Tasmania ABN 30 764 374 782<br />
<a href="http://www.utas.edu.au/cricos/">CRICOS Provider Code 00586B</a> | <a href="http://www.utas.edu.au/copyright/copyright_disclaimers.html">Copyright & Disclaimers</a> | <a href="http://www.utas.edu.au/accessibility/index.html">Accessibility</a> | <a href="http://eprints.utas.edu.au/feedback/">Site Feedback</a> </td>
<td width="32%"><div align="right">
<p align="right" class="NoPrint"><a href="http://www.utas.edu.au/"><img src="http://www.utas.edu.au/shared/logos/unioftasstrip.gif" alt="University of Tasmania Home Page" width="260" height="16" border="0" align="right" /></a></p>
<p align="right" class="NoPrint"><a href="http://www.utas.edu.au/"><br />
</a></p>
</div></td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top">
<td><p> </p></td>
<td><div align="right"><span class="NoPrint"><a href="http://www.eprints.org/software/"><img src="/images/eprintslogo.gif" alt="ePrints logo" width="77" height="29" border="0" align="bottom" /></a></span></div></td>
</tr>
</table>
<!-- #EndLibraryItem -->
<div align="center"></div></td>
</tr>
</table>
</body>
</html>
