Hibernation nest site selection but not overwinter activity is associated with microclimatic conditions in a hibernating mammal

Findlay-Robinson, Rachel ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2269-6734 and Hill, Davina ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9085-6192 (2024) Hibernation nest site selection but not overwinter activity is associated with microclimatic conditions in a hibernating mammal. Journal of Thermal Biology, 123 . p. 103909.

Preview

PDF - Published Version Available under License CC BY Download (1MB) | Preview

Abstract

Fine-scale variation in microclimates between habitats may impact energy consumption for the organisms that inhabit them. This may be particularly important for sedentary species or those unable to change habitats for long periods, such as hibernators. Low ambient temperatures were traditionally thought key to microclimatic selection for hibernation locations, but recent research suggests that other factors may contribute or exceed ambient temperature in importance. We aimed to characterise microclimates at hibernacula of wild hibernating hazel dormice Muscardinus avellanarius, and test how these microclimates differ to those at locations without hibernacula using a microclimatic modelling approach. Dormice hibernated in areas with warmer soil temperatures and lower variability in humidity and relative shortwave radiation. These results add to the growing body of evidence that low ambient temperatures may not be the primary driver of hibernation microclimate selection, although temperature is still likely to play an important role. We also found that ambient temperatures measured at the microclimatic level were substantially buffered compared to point samples taken at the nearest weather station (∼1.6 km away), highlighting the importance of considering microclimates in wildlife conservation in the face of future environmental change.

Item Type:	Article
Journal / Publication Title:	Journal of Thermal Biology
Publisher:	Elsevier
ISSN:	1879-0992
Departments:	Institute of Science and Environment > Forestry and Conservation
Additional Information:	This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Rachel Findlay-Robinson, Institute of Science and Environment, University of Cumbria, UK. Rachel Findlay-Robinson, formerly of Institute of Science and Environment, University of Cumbria, UK and present address Graduate School, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, UK.
Depositing User:	Anna Lupton
Date Deposited:	01 Aug 2024 12:02
Last Modified:	04 Sep 2024 11:43
URI:	https://insight.cumbria.ac.uk/id/eprint/7821

Downloads