HR: 13:55h
AN: GC33B-02 INVITED    [Abstracts]
TI: Effects of Recent Climate Change on Facultative and Spontaneous Torpor in Apline Habitats
AU: * Frank, C L
EM: frank@fordham.edu
AF: Fordham University, Dept. of Biological Sciences Louis Calder Center 53 Whippoorwill Road, Armonk, NY 10504, United States
AU: Hood, W R
EM: wrhood@auburn.edu
AF: Auburn University, Dept. of Biological Sciences Rouse Science Building, Auburn, AL 36849-5407, United States
AU: Stevens, M
EM: ekim@cokinetic.com
AF: Fordham University, Dept. of Biological Sciences Louis Calder Center 53 Whippoorwill Road, Armonk, NY 10504, United States
AU: Gary, G
EM: ggary@fordham.edu
AF: Fordham University, Dept. of Biological Sciences Louis Calder Center 53 Whippoorwill Road, Armonk, NY 10504, United States
AB: Mean annual air temperatures have increased in North America by 1.0°C during the past 100 years, and are predicted to increase by 4-8 °C further within the next 70 years. Hibernating mammals may be particularly sensitive to climate change since body temperatures during torpor are strongly influence by ambient temperature. We conducted 3-7 year studies on the relationship between ambient (air/soil) temperature and the torpor patterns of free-ranging facultative and spontaneous hibernators. The facultative hibernation of eastern chipmunks (Tamias striatus) in New York State and the spontaneous hibernation by golden-mantled ground squirrels (Spermophilus lateralis) in the mountains of California were continuously monitored using temperature sensitive radiocollars during winters of 2000-01 through 2006-07. Mean air/soil temperatures during the winter 2001-02 were much greater than those observed during the same periods of 2000-1 and 2002-3 winters at both sites, and the winter of 2001-2 was one of the warmest measured in both New York State and California since 1895. Consequently T. striatus during the winter 2001-2 had: a) fewer individuals using torpor, b) reduced the time spent in torpor by 96%, and, c) increased energy expenditure by 100% when compared to the torpor patterns of the same population during the colder winters of 2000-1/2002-3. Likewise, S. lateralis during the winter of 2001-2 had: a) delayed the entrance into hibernation by a mean of 12.2 days, b) increased mean body temperatures by an average of 5.4 C during torpor, and, c) increased metabolic rate during torpor by 75% when compared to the torpor patterns of the same population during the winters of 2000-1/2002-3.
DE: 1630 Impacts of global change (1225)
DE: 1637 Regional climate change
DE: 3344 Paleoclimatology (0473, 4900)
DE: 6334 Regional planning (1880)
SC: Global Environmental Change [GC]
MN: 2007 Fall Meeting