Dynamics of the body temperature and locomotor activity of the northern mole vole (Ellobius talpinus, Cricetidae, Rodentia) in the warm season of the year

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Abstract

To study seasonal thermoregulatory adaptations in small mammals of temperate latitudes, implantable loggers were used that continuously record the body temperature and activity of animals. The data obtained with loggers were recorded in five individuals of the Northern mole vole (Ellobius talpinus) remaining in their natural habitat throughout the warm season of the year (May–October). The average and minimum body temperatures in the summer months were significantly higher than those in spring and autumn. The locomotor activity showed similar dynamics. The acrophase of the daily rhythms of body temperature in all months occurred in the morning, the activity in the evening. The circadian rhythms of both indexes had the maximum power in summer and faded in autumn and spring. A comparison of the data obtained with the results of similar observations performed in the cold season of the year (October–April) made it possible to trace a full seasonal cycle of body temperature dynamics and locomotor activity and to confirm the absence of deep hypothermia bouts in the Northern mole vole.

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About the authors

D. V. Petrovskii

Institute of Systematics and Ecology of Animals, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences; Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences

Author for correspondence.
Email: eug-nov5@yandex.ru
Russian Federation, Novosibirsk; Novosibirsk

I. A. Vasiliev

Institute of Systematics and Ecology of Animals, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences; Novosibirsk State Agrarian University

Email: eug-nov5@yandex.ru
Russian Federation, Novosibirsk; Novosibirsk

Е. А. Novikov

Institute of Systematics and Ecology of Animals, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences; Novosibirsk State Agrarian University

Email: eug-nov5@yandex.ru
Russian Federation, Novosibirsk; Novosibirsk

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2. Fig. 1. Typical patterns of body temperature and activity dynamics in different months of the year. Three-day fragments of readings from a logger (No. 5010) implanted in an adult female (No. 24120) for the periods of May 20–22, July 20–22, and October 11–13, 2024 are used as an example.

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3. Fig. 2. Dynamics of body temperature of common mole voles in the warm season.

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4. Fig. 3. Average values ​​(mesor), amplitude and acrophase of daily body temperature fluctuations in northern mole voles in the warm season. Here and in Fig. 5, the values ​​of the same indicator, statistically significantly (HSD – Tukey criterion; p <0.05) different in different months, are marked with different letters.

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5. Fig. 4. Power of rhythms (F-criterion values) of body temperature fluctuations in common mole voles with a periodicity from 0.1 to 34 hours.

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6. Fig. 5. Average values ​​(mesor), amplitude and acrophase of daily fluctuations in the motor activity of common mole voles in the warm season.

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7. Fig. 6. Power of rhythms (F-criterion values) of fluctuations in motor activity of common mole voles with a periodicity from 0.1 to 34 hours.

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