Living on the edge : daily, seasonal and annual body temperature patterns of Arabian oryx in Saudi Arabia

dc.contributor.authorStreicher, S.
dc.contributor.authorLutermann, Heike
dc.contributor.authorBennett, Nigel Charles
dc.contributor.authorBertelsen, M.F.
dc.contributor.authorMohammed, O.B.
dc.contributor.authorManger, R.
dc.contributor.authorScantlebury, M.
dc.contributor.authorIsmael, K.
dc.contributor.authorAlagaili, A.N.
dc.date.accessioned2017-10-07T09:19:09Z
dc.date.available2017-10-07T09:19:09Z
dc.date.issued2017-08-30
dc.description.abstractHeterothermy, the ability to allow body temperature (Tb) to fluctuate, has been proposed as an adaptive mechanism that enables large ungulates to cope with the high environmental temperatures and lack of free water experienced in arid environments. By storing heat during the daytime and dissipating it during the night, arid-adapted ungulates may reduce evaporative water loss and conserve water. Adaptive heterothermy in large ungulates should be particularly pronounced in hot environments with severely limited access to free water. In the current study we investigated the effects of environmental temperature (ambient, Ta and soil, Ts) and water stress on the Tb of wild, free-ranging Arabian oryx (Oryx leucoryx) in two different sites in Saudi Arabia, Mahazat as-Sayd (MS) and Uruq Bani Ma'arid (UBM). Using implanted data loggers wet took continuous Tb readings every 10 minutes for an entire calendar year and determined the Tb amplitude as well as the heterothermy index (HI). Both differed significantly between sites but contrary to our expectations they were greater in MS despite its lower environmental temperatures and higher rainfall. This may be partially attributable to a higher activity in an unfamiliar environment for translocated animals in UBM. As expected Tb amplitude and HI were greatest during summer. Only minor sex differences were apparent that may be attributable to sex-specific investment into reproduction (e.g. male-male competition) during rut. Our results suggest that the degree of heterothermy is not only driven by extrinsic factors (e.g. environmental temperatures and water availability), but may also be affected by intrinsic factors (e.g. sex and/or behaviour).en_ZA
dc.description.departmentZoology and Entomologyen_ZA
dc.description.librarianam2017en_ZA
dc.description.sponsorshipNational Plan for Science, Technology and Innovation (MAARIFAH), King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Award Number 11- ENV1918-02.en_ZA
dc.description.urihttp://www.plosone.orgen_ZA
dc.identifier.citationStreicher S., Lutermann H., Bennett N.C., Bertelsen M.F., Mohammed O.B., Manger P.R., et al. (2017) Living on the edge: Daily, seasonal and annual body temperature patterns of Arabian oryx in Saudi Arabia. PLoS ONE 12(8): e0180269. https://DOI.org/ 10.1371/journal.pone.0180269.en_ZA
dc.identifier.issn1932-6203 (online)
dc.identifier.other10.1371/journal.pone.0180269
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/2263/62603
dc.language.isoenen_ZA
dc.publisherPublic Library of Scienceen_ZA
dc.rights© 2017 Streicher et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License.en_ZA
dc.subjectHeterothermyen_ZA
dc.subjectHeaten_ZA
dc.subjectEnvironmental temperatureen_ZA
dc.subjectBody temperature (Tb)en_ZA
dc.subjectArabian oryx (Oryx leucoryx)en_ZA
dc.subjectSaudi Arabiaen_ZA
dc.titleLiving on the edge : daily, seasonal and annual body temperature patterns of Arabian oryx in Saudi Arabiaen_ZA
dc.typeArticleen_ZA

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