Journal of Applied Physiology, Vol 42, Issue 2 191-195, Copyright © 1977 by American Physiological Society
Regulation of arousal from hibernation by temperature in three species of Citellus
J. W. Twente, J. Twente and R. M. Moy
The frequency of arousal from periods of hibernation of Citellus lateralis,
C. tridecemlineatus, and C. columbianus was demonstrated to be regulated by
environmental (and therefore body) temperature over the range of 2-12
degrees C in a log-linear relationship. The slopes of the lines of
regression for all three species were not significantly different from one
another. Durations of the periods of hibernation for the considerably
larger C. columbianus, however, were significantly longer at all levels of
temperature than those for the similar-sized C. lateralis and C.
tridecemlineatus. The mechanism(s) regulating the duration of the period of
hibernation was considered to be concerned with some aspect of metabolism
and probably the same for all three species.
