The effects of age on behavioral thermoregulation in Lemur catta and Propithecus coquereli
Abstract
Older mammals experience a decrease in physiological function that impairs their ability
to internally regulate body temperature. Behavioral mechanisms can be used to alleviate
thermal stress on the body, and thus could be an effective strategy for coping with
such deficiencies that accompany the aging process. I studied geriatric and younger
individuals of five semi-free ranging groups of Lemur catta and Propithecus coquereli
to determine whether or not older lemurs were utilizing behavioral thermoregulation
more often than younger lemurs across a range of temperatures. Using focal animal
sampling, I examined activity level, the use of heat-retaining and heat-dissipating
postures, and sun exposure preference. I found that older lemurs changed their own
behavior more than younger individuals to utilize low-energy thermoregulatory behaviors,
such as decreasing activity level as temperature increased, shifting to utilize heat-retaining
postures in cooler temperatures, and shifting to utilize heat-dissipating postures
in warmer temperatures. These patterns, however, were not statistically significant
and therefore only suggestive of their function in varying ambient temperatures. Still,
this information is useful preliminary data, and future study with more focal individuals
over a wider range of temperatures may be able to highlight these subtle, but potentially
meaningful differences between age classes. By examining the thermoregulatory potential
of all members of lemur social groups we can make more informed conservation decisions
for these species in changing climatic environments.
Description
Distinction Thesis
Type
Honors thesisDepartment
Evolutionary AnthropologySubject
behavioral thermoregulation, lemur catta, propithecus coquereli, Duke Lemur Center,
temperature, agePermalink
https://hdl.handle.net/10161/8624Citation
Murray, Rowan (2014). The effects of age on behavioral thermoregulation in Lemur catta and Propithecus coquereli.
Honors thesis, Duke University. Retrieved from https://hdl.handle.net/10161/8624.Collections
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