Mammal Ecology as an Indicator of Climate Change

摘要: Publisher Summary Fruit bats, like other mammals and birds, use a combination of physiological behavioral mechanisms to regulate their body temperature. This thermoregulatory capacity decouples core temperature from air Thus, despite exposure the surface very cold or hot temperatures, appropriate responses ensure that never varies by more than few degrees centigrade between birth death. Even birds express torpor do not abandon thermoregulation, but rather lower setpoint. For all endotherms, abandonment thermoregulation is fatal. The for thermoregulate might be expected enable degree thermal independence reduces vulnerability environmental conditions sensitivity climate change. defining feature endotherms metabolic heat at constant set-point independent Under conditions, where gains environment, must begin actively dissipating through panting, perspiration, saliva spreading, in case wing fanning. rate minimized when they are rest, thermoneutral zone, digesting food; metabolism measured under these circumstances referred as basal rate. Climate exerts additional, indirect effects on its effect resources, competitors predators. Temperature has fundamental biological processes, thus variation should profoundly affect organisms sharing same environment.