Anglia Ruskin Research Online (ARRO)
Browse
Wascher_2018_2.pdf (2.52 MB)

Free-living greylag geese adjust their heart rates and body core temperatures to season and reproductive context

Download (2.52 MB)
journal contribution
posted on 2023-07-26, 14:18 authored by Claudia A. F. Wascher, Kurt Kotrschal, Walter Arnold
Animals adaptively regulate their metabolic rate and hence energy expenditure over the annual cycle to cope with energetic challenges. We studied energy management in greylag geese. In all geese, profound seasonal changes of heart rate (fH) and body temperature (Tb) showed peaks in summer and troughs during winter, and also daily modulation of fH and Tb. Daily mean fH was on average 22% lower at the winter trough than at the summer peak, whereas daily mean Tb at the winter trough was only about 1 °C below the summer peak. Daily means of Tb together with those of air temperature and day length were the most important predictors of daily mean fH, which was further modulated by precipitation, reproductive state, and, to a minor degree, social rank. Peaks of fH and Tb occurred earlier in incubating females compared to males. Leading goslings increased daily mean fH. Our results suggest that in greylag geese, pronounced changes of fH over the year are caused by photoperiod-induced changes of endogenous heat production. Similar to large non-hibernating mammals, tolerance of lower Tb during winter seems the major factor permitting this. On top of these major seasonal changes, fH and Tb are elevated in incubating females.

History

Refereed

  • Yes

Volume

8

Issue number

2142

Publication title

Scientific Reports

ISSN

2045-2322

Publisher

Nature Research

File version

  • Published version

Language

  • eng

Legacy posted date

2018-03-29

Legacy creation date

2018-03-29

Legacy Faculty/School/Department

ARCHIVED Faculty of Science & Technology (until September 2018)

Usage metrics

    ARU Outputs

    Categories

    No categories selected

    Licence

    Exports

    RefWorks
    BibTeX
    Ref. manager
    Endnote
    DataCite
    NLM
    DC