Journal article
Temperature variation in nest boxes occupied by arboreal mammals during winter in southern Australia
Australian mammalogy
25/05/2022
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Source: InCites
Abstract
We investigated nest temperatures in nest boxes occupied by single lactating brush-tailed phascogales (n = 8 boxes) and 1–3 adult sugar gliders (n = 7 boxes) when overnight ambient temperature dropped to <5°C. Temperature in the nest decreased or increased rapidly as animals vacated or re-occupied their nests. In the hour following first night-time departure, temperatures in sugar glider nests dropped by 9°C but only by 4°C in phascogale nests. The slower rate in phascogale nests was due to the presence of nestlings. Phascogales returned repeatedly to the nest during the night, resulting in an average 15°C differential above ambient over the night (2200–0500 h). Gliders returned infrequently during the night, resulting in an average nest-ambient differential of 3–5°C. After departure some glider nests tracked ambient to <0°C. The ability of nests to insulate and moderate temperature fluctuations requires further study. Our study highlights that we have incomplete knowledge of many aspects of the nesting ecology of cavity-using Australian mammals.
Details
- Title
- Temperature variation in nest boxes occupied by arboreal mammals during winter in southern Australia
- Creators
- Ross L. GoldingayKaren J. Thomas
- Publication Details
- Australian mammalogy
- Publisher
- C S I R O Publishing
- Identifiers
- 991013035772802368
- Copyright
- © 2022 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing on behalf of the Australian Mammal Society.
- Academic Unit
- Faculty of Science and Engineering; Science
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article