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Metabolic rate and thermal conductance of lemmings from high-arctic Canada and Siberia
journal contribution
posted on 2023-10-26, 03:19 authored by Marcel KlaassenMarcel Klaassen, J Agrell, A LindströmThe arctic climate places high demands on the energy metabolism of its inhabitants. We measured resting (RMR) and basal metabolic rates (BMR), body temperatures, and dry and wet thermal conductances in summer morphs of the lemmings Dicrostonyx groenlandicus and Lemmus trimucronatus in arctic Canada, and the BMR of D. torquatus, D. groenlandicus, L. sibiricus, L. bungei and L. trimucronatus in Siberia. In contrast to previous studies the data were collected on animals that had spent only a limited time in captivity. All parameters were analysed in relation to the variations in body mass (20-90 g). Body temperature and BMR were lower in D. groenlandicus than L. trimucronatus, which coincides with greater longevity in the former species. Wet and dry thermal conductances of both species were similar and comparable with those of other Myomorpha (mouse-type rodents), indicating no evidence for a previously claimed lower thermal conductance in lemmings. BMR in lemmings appeared to be higher than in other Arvicolidae (voles, lemmings and muskrats), which could relate to their typically high-latitude distribution. However, the more southerly living Lemmus species had higher BMR than the more northerly living Dicrostonyx species, which may be explained by the former having a relatively low-quality diet.
History
Journal
Journal of comparative physiology BVolume
172Pagination
371 - 378Location
Berlin, GermanyPublisher DOI
ISSN
1432-136XLanguage
engPublication classification
C Journal article; C1.1 Refereed article in a scholarly journalCopyright notice
2002, SpringerUsage metrics
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Keywords
AnimalsArctic RegionsArvicolinaeBasal MetabolismBody ConstitutionBody Temperature RegulationCanadaSiberiaSpecies SpecificityScience & TechnologyLife Sciences & BiomedicinePhysiologyZoologyarcticdietconductancelemmingsmetabolismDICROSTONYX-GROENLANDICUSCOLLARED LEMMINGSTEMPERATURE REGULATIONDIET SELECTIONFOOD-HABITSBODY-SIZEENERGETICSMAMMALSRODENTSBALANCE
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