Effects of reproduction and environmental factors on body temperature and activity patterns of wolverines

摘要: Mammals in the far north are exposed to extreme seasonal changes environmental conditions, such as temperature and photoperiod, which have notable effects on animal physiology behaviour. The wolverine (Gulo gulo) is a carnivore with circumpolar distribution well-adapted conditions. Still, ecophysiological studies free-ranging wolverines lacking. In this study, we used abdominally implanted body loggers combination GPS collars acceleration sensors 14 northern Sweden study daily variation activity patterns. We generalized additive mixed modelling investigate patterns over time Lomb-Scargle periodogram analysis analyse circadian rhythms. found that an average core of 38.5 ± 0.2 °C up 6 °C. Body varied between reproductive states. Pregnant females showed distinct decrease during gestation. Wolverines were active both day night, but displayed peaks crepuscular hours. However, changed seasonally, gradual change from unimodal pattern winter concentrated short period light bimodal autumn around dusk dawn. less likely display 24-h rhythms winter, when hours limited. different biologging techniques gave novel insight into ecophysiology, biology wolverines, adding important knowledge our understanding animals adapted cold environments at latitudes.