Cooling and thermal conductivity in three small Alaskan mammals
Morrison PR and Tietz WJ. 1957. Cooling and thermal conductivity in three small Alaskan mammals. Journal of Mammalogy. 38(1):78-86
A procedure for the analysis of cooling curves of dead animals to provide a measure of the thermal conductivity of the fur is described. A considerable variability was observed between individual measurements, but the mean results compared well to those obtained on fur-covered metal casts and by measuring oxygen consumption in living animals. The effects of pasture (reduction of body surface), fur position (depth and density of the layer), and air movement were considered. Although the magnitude of the observed differences was small, they are in agreement with field observations which show Clethrionomys to be better adapted to winter conditions than Microtus, and Sorex substantially poorer than either of these. In general, however, the insulation was substantially constant under varying conditions.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Morrison, Peter; Tietz, William
- Units
- CAKN , DENA , WRST , YUCH
- Keywords
- Fur, insulation, Mammals, Microtines, Shrews, Small Mammals, thermal loss, Voles, Winter