Social Thermoregulation During Hibernation in Alpine Marmots Marmota marmota

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Social Thermoregulation During Hibernation in
Alpine Marmots (Marmota marmota) W. Arnold
J Comp Physiol B (1988) 158151-156
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Marmot Hibernation
Euthermia
Body Temperature
Torpor
Time
Euthermia Normal body temperature
(non-hibernating) Topor The dormant, inactive
state of a hibernating animal
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Alpine marmots

• Social hibernators
• Reproductive benefits and lower mortality
• Purpose of experiment

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Materials and Methods

• Three marmot groups captured
• Artificial dens
• Marmot transmitters

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Results
Figure 1. Body temperature of the animals in
group 1, 2, and 3 from October to March.
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Results
Figure 2. Illustration of synchronized euthermic
periods in a huddling group.
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Results

• Behavior
• Huddling compared to non-huddling
• Individual differences

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Discussion Why does this synchronization occur?

• Peripheral sensitivity
• Waking up last has more costs then benefits
• Parents may adjust to match juvenile sleep-wake
  cycles
• Weight loss

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Future Studies

• How many marmots are best for social
  thermoregulation?
• Investigate how metabolic rate of individuals
  depends on their thermoregulatory behavior
  relative to their group members

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Questions?