The Interplay of Energy Balance and Daily Timing of Activity in a Subterranean Rodent: A Laboratory and Field Approach

• DOI: 10.1086/693003
• Publication Date: 2017-05-23T19:48:55Z
• Authors: Patricia Tachinardi; Verónica S. Valen...; Gisele A. Oda; C. Loren Buck
• Keywords: Daylight

The tuco-tuco (Ctenomys aff. knighti) is among the rodent species known to be nocturnal under standard laboratory conditions and diurnal natural conditions. circadian thermoenergetics (CTE) hypothesis postulates that switches in activity timing are a response energetic challenges; daytime reduces thermoregulatory costs by consolidating warmest part of day. Studying wild animals both captive can increase understanding how temporal patterns shaped environment could serve as test CTE hypothesis. We estimated effects on energy expenditure for combining measurements metabolic rate with environmental temperature records winter summer. showed that, winter, there would considerable savings if allocated at least partially during daylight, lending support In summer, impact small, suggesting this season other factors, such predation risk, water balance, social interaction, may have more important roles than energetics determination time.