title: Thermoregulatory responses of the North American porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum bruneri) to decreasing ambient temperature and increasing wind speed.
abstract: Average resting metabolic rate of five adult male porcupines (Erethizon dorsatum bruneri) was 0.23 ml O2/g.h +/- 0.007 SEM, between 10 degrees C (Tlc) and 25 degrees C, which is 70% of the value predicted by body mass. A Tb of 37.1 degrees C +/- 0.1 SEM was maintained between -10 degrees C and 25 degrees C. Calculated thermal conductance (between 6 degrees C and -10 degrees C) was 87% of the predicted value. There was no significant change in mean metabolic rate as a function of wind (up 4.3 m/s) at ambient temperatures (1 degree C and -5 degrees C) below their Tlc. Under these same ambient conditions, with and without wind, the skin surface and subcutaneous areas of the porcupine's rosette region exhibited marked temperature lability.
authors.affiliation: Saint Louis Zoo, Research Center, Forest Park, MO 63110, USA. kdematteo@aol.com
authors.forename: K E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: DeMatteo
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Harlow
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D001831:Body Temperature; D001835:Body Weight; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D008297:Male; D008954:Models, Biological; D009656:North America; D012377:Rodentia / Q000502:physiology*; D012879:Skin Physiological Phenomena; D013696:Temperature; D014919:Wind