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Overwinter body temperature patterns in captive jerboas (Jaculus orientalis): influence of sex and group

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Abstract

The jerboa (Jaculus orientalis) has been described in the past as a hibernator, but no reliable data exist on the daily and seasonal rhythmicity of body temperature (T b). In this study, T b patterns were determined in different groups of jerboas (isolated males and females, castrated males and grouped animals) maintained in captivity during autumn and winter, and submitted to natural variations of light and ambient temperature (T a). T b and T a variations were recorded with surgically implanted iButton temperature loggers at 30-min intervals for two consecutive years. About half (6/13) of isolated female jerboas hibernated with a T b < 33°C, with hibernation bouts interspersed with short periods of normothermy from November to February. Hibernation bout durations were longer (4–5 days) than those of normothermia phases (1–4 days). During hibernation, the minimum T b was low (T bmin ~10.7°C). In contrast, one of the 12 isolated males showed short hibernation bouts of ca. 2 days late in the hibernation season, February–March. The males had T bmin values of 15.1°C. In contrast to predictions, no castrated males hibernated. When jerboas were grouped, females and males exhibited concomitant torpor bouts. In males, the longest bouts were observed during the late hibernation season. These data suggest complex regulation of hibernation in jerboas.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by an exchange program from the Center National de la Recherche Scientifique et Technique (CNRST, Morocco) and the Center National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS, France) (CNRST-CNRS, 2006-2008), by the GDRI Neuro” Groupement de Recherche International de Neurosciences” and by the PICS N° 917 10 (CNBS-CNRST). This work was also supported by the NeuroMed program. We thank Dr. A Malan for his invaluable advice and assistance in the analysis of the results and Dr. D. Hicks for critically reading the manuscript and revising the English. We also specifically thank Prof BG Lovegrove, as well as other anonymous referees for their very constructive comments.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology and Nutritional and Climatic Environment, Faculty of Sciences, BP 1796, ATLAS, Fes, Morocco

    S. El Ouezzani, I. A. Janati & R. Magoul

  2. Department of Neurobiology of Rhythms, Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaires et Intégratives, CNRS UPR 3212, University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France

    P. Pévet & M. Saboureau

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  1. S. El Ouezzani
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  2. I. A. Janati
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  3. R. Magoul
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  4. P. Pévet
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  5. M. Saboureau
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Correspondence to S. El Ouezzani.

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Communicated by G. Heldmaier.

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El Ouezzani, S., Janati, I.A., Magoul, R. et al. Overwinter body temperature patterns in captive jerboas (Jaculus orientalis): influence of sex and group. J Comp Physiol B 181, 299–309 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00360-010-0519-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00360-010-0519-1

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