Feeding causes thermophily in the woodhouse's toad (Bufo woodhousii).
(1) We placed 12 toads (Bufo woodhousii) in linear thermal gradients with floor temperatures ranging from 10 to 40 degrees C and monitored body temperatures (T(b)'s) with chromega-alomega thermocouples interfaced with a datalogger. (2) We measured T(b)'s at 10min intervals over a 24h period in toads that had eaten an equivalent of 5% of their body mass or had fasted for 5 days. (3) The mean 24h T(b) did not differ significantly between the fed and fasted groups. (4) Hourly mean T(b)'s of fed toads differed significantly over the 24h, but those of fasted toads did not. Fed toads selected highest T(b)'s during late afternoon and evening.
Division of Biological Sciences, Emporia State University, 66801, Emporia, KS, USA
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Sievert