Basking behaviour and torpor use in free-ranging Planigale gilesi
Lisa Warnecke A B and Fritz Geiser AA Centre for Behavioural and Physiological Ecology, Zoology, University of New England, Armidale, NSW 2351, Australia.
B Corresponding author. Email: lisa.warnecke@gmx.de
Australian Journal of Zoology 57(6) 373-375 https://doi.org/10.1071/ZO09097
Submitted: 23 September 2009 Accepted: 16 November 2009 Published: 18 December 2009
Abstract
We investigated the importance of energy-conserving strategies for free-ranging Planigale gilesi in arid Australia. We monitored torpor use and basking behaviour using internal temperature-sensitive transmitters. Torpor was used every day; the maximum torpor bout duration was 18.2 h and the minimum body temperature was 10.5°C. Basking behaviour was observed during rewarming from torpor as well as during normothermia. The use of torpor and basking is likely to reduce the energy requirements of P. gilesi, thus helping it to survive in a harsh and unpredictable environment.
Additional keywords: arid zone, dasyurids, heterothermy, passive rewarming.
Acknowledgements
We thank Murray Ellis for providing locations of planigale sites, and James Turner for help with data collection and comments on the manuscript. Mark Fletcher, Jade Freeman, Sarah Spachmann, Clare Stawski, Rick Taylor and Yvonne Würz provided assistance in the field. Financial support was granted by the Australian Research Council, the University of New England and the Wildlife Preservation Society of Australia. Accommodation was provided by DECC Broken Hill.
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