Hibernation biology of Richardson's ground squirrels : hibernaculum systems and energy utilization

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dc.contributor.authorCharge, T. Dic
dc.contributor.authorUniversity of Lethbridge. Faculty of Arts and Science
dc.contributor.supervisorMichener, Gail R.
dc.date.accessioned2007-04-25T19:37:41Z
dc.date.available2007-04-25T19:37:41Z
dc.date.issued2001
dc.degree.levelMasters
dc.descriptionxii, 139 leaves : ill. ; 28 cm.en
dc.description.abstractI studied free-living Richardson's ground squirrels (Spermophilus richardsonii) using telemetry and total body electrical conductivity (TOBEC) to evaluate overwinter energy utilization and the impact of seed caching on body composition of males. I excavated 51 hibernation systems and found that 66% of 35 males cached 1 to 4 species of seed in the hivernaculum. Pre-emergent euthermy was shorter for 3 non-caching (0.7 = 0.2 days) than for 13 caching males (4.0 = 2.8 days), and metabolic predictions of overwinter mass loss approximated actual loss for non-caching males, but over-estimated mass loss for caching males. I concluded that caching males recouped some of the mass lost during hibernation by eating the cache during the longer period of pre-emergence euthermy. Based on TOBEC, the recouped mass included both fat and lean tissue. I suggest that caching in one year is a cost of reproduction that offsets the energetic demands of mating the following year.en
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10133/151
dc.language.isoen_USen
dc.publisherLethbridge, Alta. : University of Lethbridge. Faculty of Arts and Science, 2001en
dc.publisher.departmentDepartment of Biological Sciences
dc.publisher.facultyArts and Science
dc.relation.ispartofseriesThesis (University of Lethbridge. Faculty of Arts and Science)en
dc.subjectRichardson's ground squirrel -- Hibernation -- Albertaen
dc.subjectDissertations, Academicen
dc.titleHibernation biology of Richardson's ground squirrels : hibernaculum systems and energy utilizationen
dc.typeThesisen
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