Heart rates in the captive, free-ranging beaver.
1. Heart rates of beaver (Castor canadensis) under free-ranging captive conditions for active behaviors and resting in water (approximately 121 beats/min) were significantly (P less than 0.01) higher than for resting on land (100 beats/min). 2. Although no transient recovery tachycardia was evident in swimming heart rates following diving, average swimming heart rates were higher (127 beats/min) after diving than after other precursor behaviors (123 beats/min). 3. Beaver exhibited bradycardia when sleeping (75 beats/min), diving (61 beats/min), and when threatened on land (57 beats/min). 4. The respiratory sinus arrhythmia indicated a respiratory rate of 15 breaths/min. 5. Cold temperatures (approximately 0 degree C) elicited higher heart rates than did warmer temperatures (approximately 20 degrees C) in active, non-diving behaviors (P less than 0.05).
Swain
U G
UG
Wildlife Biology Program, Washington State University, Pullman 99164-6410.
Gilbert
F F
FF
Robinette
J D
JD
D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology; D006339:Heart Rate; D012377:Rodentia / Q000502:physiology*; D013696:Temperature