Seasonal energetics of opossums (Didelphis virginiana) in Ohio.
1. Female opossums acclimatized to each of the four seasons were not significantly different (P greater than 0.05) in oxygen consumption at a Ta of 0 degrees C; the overall average was 0.66 +/- 0.1 ml O2/g-hr. 2. Body weight decreased by 27% from autumn to spring; pelage density increased in winter, but thermal conductance changed very little between seasons. 3. Respirometry revealed no evidence of thermoregulatory adjustments in opossums acclimatized to winter in Ohio.
D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000818:Animals; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D005260:Female; D006197:Hair / Q000502:physiology; D009820:Ohio; D009893:Opossums / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D012146:Rest; D012621:Seasons