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Understanding the mechanisms driving declines in biodiversity with latitude requires assessing if there are ecological limits to the number of species that can coexist, and if these limits vary with latitude, both of which are long‐standing and currently debated questions. Here I show that diversification of North American mammals across the Cenozoic Era slowed as diversity increased. This damping of diversification rates indicates ecological limitation, which occurred even though diversity fluctuated through time and was almost never at an equilibrium 'saturation' point. The estimated environmental carrying capacity was correlated with global temperature positively at high latitudes and negatively at low latitudes. Geographical variation in how standing diversity affects diversification rates could help explain the latitudinal biodiversity gradient as well as changes in the strength of the gradient over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Harsh environmental conditions adversely affect the health and productivity of buffaloes. The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of seasonal thermal stress on the physiological responses, oxidative stress and some related hormones in Murrah buffaloes. A significant (p < 0.05) rise was observed in the rectal temperature, respiration rate, pulse rate and superoxide dismutase (SOD) during hot-humid (HH) and hot-dry (HD) seasons compared to thermoneutral (TN) season. Plasma cortisol and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were low during TN season, intermediate in HD and highest during HH season. Although the levels of plasma triiodothyronine and thyroxine were high during TN season, their levels declined notably during HD and HH seasons. The temperature humidity index had a positive correlation (p < 0.01) with physiological responses, SOD, MDA and plasma cortisol levels. However, it was negatively correlated (p < 0.01) with the concentration of plasma thyroid hormones. The results reveal that buffaloes could cope efficiently with heat stress by reducing the levels of metabolic heat production-related hormones and releasing more antioxidant (SOD). However, they were still showing signs of stress which were reflected by higher levels of cortisol, lipid peroxidation (MDA) and physiological responses. Therefore, promoting health and productivity of buffaloes requires suitable management strategies to alleviate heat stress and provide comfort to them during extreme seasons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Female mink build more advanced maternal nests in cold nest boxes. • Dams prefer to place their litters and stay longer in cold nest sites. • Offspring in heated nests weighed 17.5% more on Day 7 after birth. • Offspring in cold nests vocalised for longer and huddled more through Day 7. • The results indicate a temperature preference conflict between dams and offspring. Abstract We investigated whether nest building and nest site preference are temperature dependent in female mink. We designed two experiments: in Experiment 1, female mink had access to unheated (7 °C, Room7C group) or heated (25 °C, Heated25C group) nest boxes; in Experiment 2, female mink had free choice of nest boxes at three temperatures (7 °C, 16 °C, and 25 °C). We hypothesised that the progress in nest building would be temperature dependent (Experiment 1), with female mink having a temperature preference, and that this preference would shift toward a higher temperature when giving birth (Experiment 2). Nest building decreased with increasing nest box temperature from Day −3 to Day 7 relative to the day of birth (Experiment 1: P < 0.001; Experiment 2: 7 °C > 16 °C > 25 °C, P < 0.05). In Experiment 1, females in the Heated25C group stayed for significantly shorter times inside the nest boxes than did females in the Room7C group (P = 0.007). In Experiment 2, dams spent the most time in the 7 °C nest boxes and the least time in the 25 °C boxes (P < 0.05). Similarly, dams given a choice preferred not to place their litters in the 25°C nest boxes through Day 7 (Experiment 2, P < 0.05). Offspring placed in 25°C nest boxes weighed 17.5% more than those placed in 7°C boxes on Day 7 (Experiment 1, P = 0.028). When dams were away from the nest, 1) offspring in unheated nest boxes vocalised longer than did those in heated boxes (Experiment 1: P = 0.010), and 2) offspring in 7 °C boxes huddled more than did those in 25 °C boxes (Experiment 1, P = 0.021). These results show that maternal nest building and choice of nest site are temperature dependent, with a potential temperature preference conflict between dams and offspring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects parity, herd production level, number of cows per herd, insemination season and lactation stage on the relationships between daily milk and first insemination success of 55 685 cows were examined. The statistical analysis was performed using the χ2 test and the decision tree technique. The χ2 test showed that all the experimental factors affected the insemination success as a function of the daily milk yield of the cows; as it increased from ≤20 kg to >40 kg, first insemination success decreased by more than 7% in primiparous cows, and by as much as over 16% in second lactation cows. With the herd production level going up from ≤7000 kg to >9000 kg, the unfavourable effect of the increasing daily milk yield on fertility decreased almost 4-fold. Summer was the least favourable period for insemination. Cows yielding >40 kg milk/day were particularly sensitive to heat stress, as evidenced by their first insemination success decreasing by over 13% in relation to the cows producing ≤20 kg milk. In winter this difference was 9.5%. Considering the lactation stage, as daily milk yield increased, first insemination success decreased by around 9% when performed up to 60 days of lactation, and by as much as over 15% during 151-180 days of lactation. Cows in bigger herds exhibited lower fertility, but the increase in daily milk yield caused first insemination success to decrease by 16% in very small herds (≤20 cows) and by 4.6% in larger herds. Classification tree analysis showed that similar factors (lactation period, number of cows per herd, daily yield, parity) were moderating the first insemination success in cows. At the same time, the applied methods showed that the determinants of fertility in cows are highly complex. This complexity may be well explained using the classification tree technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Northern Pigtailed Macaque (Macaca leonina) naturally distributes in southern Vietnam, where it adapts to high daily temperature. In Ha Noi Zoo, northern Vietnam, time budget and diet of a 10- individual group of Macaca leonina and some ecological factors (temperature, humidity, human impact) were studied to determine its adaptation to the weather in the northern region of the country. Methods for the present study comprise focal time sampling and ad libitum. The study results showed that the species activities are not influenced by temperature and humidity, but strongly impacted by humans. There were linear regressions between the human impact and several activities of the species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Isochoric (constant volume) freezing has been recently suggested as a new method for cell and organ preservation. As a first step in studying the effect of isochoric freezing on mammalian cells, Madin-Darby canine kidney epithelial cells (MDCK), were frozen in an isochoric system, in a simple extracellular phosphate buffered solution to −10 °C (96.5 MPa), - 15 °C (162 MPa) and −20 °C (205 MPa) for 60 and 120 min. Cell membrane integrity and cell metabolism were studied with a Live/Dead cell vitality assay and flow cytometry. We found that cell survival decreases with an increase in pressure (lower temperatures) and time of exposure. For example, 60% of cells survived 60 min at – 10 °C and only 18% survived 120 min at this temperature. Negligible survival was measured at – 20 °C . This study may serve as the baseline towards further research on techniques to optimize the effects of isochoric freezing on living biological matter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Huddling as social thermoregulatory behavior is commonly used by small mammals to reduce heat loss and energy expenditure in the cold. Our study aimed to determine the effect of huddling behavior on energy conservation, thermogenesis, core body temperature (Tb) regulation and body composition in Brandt's voles (Lasiopodomys brandtii). Adult captive-bred female Brandt's voles (n = 124) (~50 g) in 31 cages with 4 individuals each were exposed to cool (23 ± 1°C) and cold (4 ± 1°C) ambient temperatures (Ta) and were allowed to huddle or were physically separated. The cold huddling (Cold-H) groups significantly reduced food intake by 29% and saved digestible energy 156.99 kJ/day compared with cold separated groups (Cold-S); in cool huddling groups (Cool-H) the reduction in food intake was 26% and digestible energy was saved by 105.19 kJ/day in comparison to the separated groups (Cool-S). Resting metabolic rate (RMR) of huddling groups was 35.7 and 37.2% lower than in separated groups at cold and cool Tas, respectively. Maximum non-shivering thermogenesis (NSTmax) of huddling voles was not affected by Ta, but in Cold-S voles it was significantly increased in comparison to Cool-S. Huddling groups decreased wet thermal conductance by 39% compared with separated groups in the cold, but not in the cool Ta. Unexpectedly, huddling voles significantly decreased Tb by 0.25 - 0.50°C at each Ta. Nevertheless, activity of Cold-H voles was higher than in Cold-S voles. Thus, huddling is energetically highly effective because of reduced metabolic rate, thermogenic capacity and relaxed Tb regulation despite the increase of activity. Therefore, Brandt's voles can remain active and maintain their body condition without increased energetic costs during cold exposure. This study highlights the ecological significance of huddling behavior for maintenance of individual fitness at low costs, and thus survival of population during severe winter in small mammals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relationship between body size and temperature of mammals is poorly resolved, especially for large keystone species such as bison (Bison bison). Bison are well represented in the fossil record across North America, which provides an opportunity to relate body size to climate within a species. We measured the length of a leg bone (calcaneal tuber, DstL) in 849 specimens from 60 localities that were dated by stratigraphy and 14C decay. We estimated body mass (M) as M = (DstL/11.49)3. Average annual temperature was estimated from δ18O values in the ice cores from Greenland. Calcaneal tuber length of Bison declined over the last 40,000 years, that is, average body mass was 37% larger (910 ± 50 kg) than today (665 ± 21 kg). Average annual temperature has warmed by 6°C since the Last Glacial Maximum (~24–18 kya) and is predicted to further increase by 4°C by the end of the 21st century. If body size continues to linearly respond to global temperature, Bison body mass will likely decline by an additional 46%, to 357 ± 54 kg, with an increase of 4°C globally. The rate of mass loss is 41 ± 10 kg per°C increase in global temperature. Changes in body size of Bison may be a result of migration, disease, or human harvest but those effects are likely to be local and short‐term and not likely to persist over the long time scale of the fossil record. The strong correspondence between body size of bison and air temperature is more likely the result of persistent effects on the ability to grow and the consequences of sustaining a large body mass in a warming environment. Continuing rises in global temperature will likely depress body sizes of bison, and perhaps other large grazers, without human intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a context of climate change, a mismatch has been shown to occur between some species’ reproductive phenology and their environment. So far, few studies have either documented temporal trends in calving phenology or assessed which climatic variables influence the calving phenology in ungulate species, yet the phenology of ungulates’ births affects offspring survival and population’s recruitment rate. Using a long-term dataset (45 years) of birth dates of a semi-domesticated reindeer population in Kaamanen, North Finland, we show that calving season has advanced by ~ 7 days between 1970 and 2016. Advanced birth dates were associated with lower precipitation and a reduced snow cover in April and warmer temperatures in April-May. Improved females’ physical condition in late gestation due to warmer temperatures in April-May and reduced snow conditions in April probably accounted for such advance in calving date. On the other hand, a lengthening of the calving season was reported following a warmer temperature in January, a higher number of days when mean temperature exceeds 0°C in October-November and a decreasing snow cover from October to November. By affecting the inter-individual heterogeneity in the plastic response of females’ calving date to better climatic conditions in fall and winter, climatic variability contributed to weaken the calving synchrony in this herd. Whether variability in climatic conditions form environmental cues for the adaptation of calving phenology by females to climate change is however uncertain, but it is likely. As such this study enhances our understanding on how reproductive phenology of ungulate species would be affected by climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bergmann's rule is a widely-accepted biogeographic rule stating that individuals within a species are smaller in warmer environments. While there are many single-species studies and integrative reviews documenting this pattern, a data-intensive approach has not been used yet to determine the generality of this pattern. We assessed the strength and direction of the intraspecific relationship between temperature and individual mass for 952 bird and mammal species. For eighty-seven percent of species, temperature explained less than 10% of variation in mass, and for 79% of species the correlation was not statistically significant. These results suggest that Bergmann's rule is not general and temperature is not a dominant driver of biogeographic variation in mass. Further understanding of size variation will require integrating multiple processes that influence size. The lack of dominant temperature forcing weakens the justification for the hypothesis that global warming could result in widespread decreases in body size. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contemporary examination of community structure requires analyzing multiple dimensions of biodiversity to provide a more holistic understanding of the ecological and historical factors involved in the formation and maintenance of local communities. We used empirical data on bat communities across Mexico to investigate patterns of taxonomic and phylogenetic diversities. More specifically, we 1) characterized phylogenetic structure using multiple measures of diversity and identified environmental factors that serve as potential drivers of the underlying structure, 2) determined whether any bat community showed evidence of phylogenetic overdispersion or underdispersion and characterized how taxonomic structure differed among overdispersed, randomly dispersed, and underdispersed sites, and 3) examined the relationship between phylogenetic diversity and size of the regional species pool. We used 3 indices of phylogenetic diversity (Faith's index [FI], mean nearest neighbor distance [MNND], and mean pairwise distance [MPD]) to quantify patterns of evolutionary relatedness in bat communities across Mexico. To determine whether a particular community was overdispersed, randomly dispersed, or underdispersed, we used randomization procedures with latitudinal and longitudinal constraints to define the regional species pool for each bat community. We used regression trees to investigate which climatic factors explained variation for each measure of phylogenetic diversity. Precipitation and longitude were correlated with FI, temperature was correlated with MNND, and temperature along with latitude and longitude were correlated with MPD. We found that just over one-half of the communities were underdispersed, just under one-half were randomly dispersed, and only 1 was overdispersed. Each measure of phylogenetic diversity was differently affected by the size of the regional species pool. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pigeon et al. (2016) Staying cool in a changing landscape: the influence of maximum daily ambient temperature on grizzly bear habitat selection. Oecologia 181:1101. doi: analyzed the effect of ambient temperature on the habitat selection of grizzly bears ( Ursus arctos) in Alberta, Canada. They concluded that temperature played a significant role in bear habitat selection and that it was unlikely that human activity introduced biases to the habitat selection of bears. However, Pigeon et al. did not consider variables related to human activities in their analyses. They also misinterpreted previous research that has accounted for temperature in the habitat selection of brown bears. There is much literature published on the negative effects of human disturbance on wildlife in general and on bears in particular. Downplaying the role of human disturbance could have important negative consequences if, in fact, human disturbance were a more important factor than thermoregulation. Indeed, dismissing the importance of human influence, in the face of contradictory evidence, could tempt managers to disregard an important factor that is difficult and often unpopular to deal with in their conservation plans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The thermal niche of a species is one of the main determinants of its ecology and biogeography. In this study, we determined the thermal niche of 23 species of Neotropical nectar-feeding bats of the subfamily Glossophaginae (Chiroptera, Phyllostomidae). We calculated their thermal niches using temperature data obtained from collection records, by generating a distribution curve of the maximum and minimum temperatures per locality, and using the inflection points of the temperature distributions to estimate the species optimal ( STZ) and suboptimal ( SRZ) zones of the thermal niche. Additionally, by mapping the values of the STZ and SRZ on a phylogeny of the group, we generated a hypothesis of the evolution of the thermal niches of this clade of nectar-feeding bats. Finally, we used the characteristics of their thermal niches to predict the responses of these organisms to climate change. We found a large variation in the width and limits of the thermal niches of nectar-feeding bats. Additionally, while the upper limits of the thermal niches varied little among species, their lower limits differ wildly. The ancestral reconstruction of the thermal niche indicated that this group of Neotropical bats evolved under cooler temperatures. The two clades inside the Glossophaginae differ in the evolution of their thermal niches, with most members of the clade Choeronycterines evolving 'colder' thermal niches, while the majority of the species in the clade Glossophagines evolving 'warmer' thermal niches. By comparing thermal niches with climate change models, we found that all species could be affected by an increase of 1°C in temperature at the end of this century. This suggests that even nocturnal species could suffer important physiological costs from global warming. Our study highlights the value of scientific collections to obtain ecologically significant physiological data for a large number of species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the factors that lead to variation in the timing of breeding in widespread species such as red deer ( Cervus elaphus) is crucial to predict possible responses of wild populations to different climate scenarios. Here, we sought to further understand the causes of inter-annual variation in the reproduction timing of female deer in Mediterranean environments. An integrative approach was used to identify the relative importance of individual, population and climate traits in the date of conception of free-ranging deer, based on a dataset of 829 hinds culled during 12 years. We found that a population trait, density, was the most important factor explaining the variation in conception dates, with greater densities causing later conception dates. Body mass was the second in importance, with heavier females conceiving earlier than lighter ones. Almost equally important was the spring real bioclimatic index, a measure of plant productivity, causing later conception dates in the least productive springs (drier and hotter). Another climatic component, the end of summer drought, showed that the sooner the autumn arrives (greater rainfalls and cooler temperatures) the earlier the conception dates. Interestingly, age class was found to be a minor factor in determining conception date. Only older females (≥10 years old) conceived significantly later, suggesting reproductive senescence. This study highlights not only the importance of population and individual traits but also the influence of climatic parameters on the deer reproductive cycle in Mediterranean environments, giving valuable insight into how reproductive phenology may respond to seasonality and global climate changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hibernation has long been known to be an energy bottleneck for temperate-zone bats. As such, considerable research effort has been expended to understand the physiological ecology of bat hibernation and the microclimates necessary for successful hibernation. Still, few long-term datasets of microclimate in bat hibernacula are available, and most descriptions of “optimal” hibernation sites are based on temporally or spatially limited datasets. Here, we summarize a long-term dataset of microclimate data from caves used by hibernating Indiana bats ( Myotis sodalis ) to draw conclusions about our understanding of microclimate selection of hibernating bats more generally. Ambient temperature varied among and within most hibernation microsites across the season of hibernation. Microsites near entrances were strongly and rapidly affected by external climatic conditions, while sites deeper in caves were more weakly related to external temperatures and show a greater lag time in response to those conditions. Comparison of microclimate and concurrent population counts suggests that bats select mid-winter microsites with a wider range of environmental conditions than is often stated; mid-winter survey counts increased between 1983 and 2011 in both cold and warm microsites. This extensive dataset provides some of the most exhaustive evidence yet that not all bats within a species choose (or likely require) microsites with the same microclimatic conditions. We argue that too often researchers and land managers have viewed microclimate selection through the lens of “optimal” conditions, and in doing so, often miss important variation that may actually be preferred by some bats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lactation performance of dairy cattle is susceptible to heat stress. The liver is one of the most crucial organs affected by high temperature in dairy cows. However, the physiological adaption by the liver to hot summer conditions has not been well elucidated in lactating dairy cows. In the present study, proteomic analysis of the liver in dairy cows in spring and hot summer was performed using a label-free method. In total, 127 differentially expressed proteins were identified; most of the upregulated proteins were involved in protein metabolic processes and responses to stimuli, whereas most of the downregulated proteins were related to oxidation–reduction. Pathway analysis indicated that 3 upregulated heat stress proteins (HSP90α, HSP90β, and endoplasmin) were enriched in the NOD-like receptor signaling pathway, whereas several downregulated NADH dehydrogenase proteins were involved in the oxidative phosphorylation pathway. The protein–protein interaction network indicated that several upregulated HSPs (HSP90α, HSP90β, and GRP78) were involved in more interactions than other proteins and were thus considered as central hub nodes. Our findings provide novel insights into the physiological adaption of liver function in lactating dairy cows to natural high temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neotropical bats use torpor as a strategy to save energy when they experience a low energy intake and/or low ambient temperature (Ta). Digestive physiology limits the energy intake of several glossophaginid bats, and could play an important role in the onset of torpor in these tropical animals. We measured the effect that diet quality and Ta had on the use of torpor by the nectar-feeding bats Glossophaga soricina and Leptonycteris yerbabuenae. Captive bats were fed with 5% (low) or 35% (high) sucrose solutions while exposed to two different Ta (17.7 and 23.2°C; low Ta and high Ta) in four different treatments: (1) high sucrose:high Ta, (2) high sucrose:low Ta, (3) low sucrose:high Ta and (4) low sucrose:low Ta. We measured their energy intake, changes in body mass (ΔMb) and skin temperature (Tskin) as response variables. Energy intake (in 10 h) was limited when both species fed on 5% sucrose, but body mass gain was only affected in G. soricina. Energy intake and Ta had a negative effect on the minimum Tskin of both species, and ΔMb affected the time that G. soricina used torpor. Both species remained normothermic on the high sucrose:high Ta treatment, but used torpor on the other three treatments. Bats used torpor during their resting and activity periods. Leptonycteris yerbabuenae spent more time in torpor in the low sucrose:high Ta treatment, while G. soricina used this strategy for longer periods of time in the high sucrose:low Ta treatment. We found that diet quality and Ta played an important role in the use of torpor by nectar-feeding bats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In response to variation in food availability and ambient temperature (Ta), many animals show seasonal adaptations in their physiology. Laboratory studies showed that thyroid hormones are involved in the regulation of metabolism, and their regulatory function is especially important when the energy balance of an individual is compromised. However, little is known about the relationship between thyroid hormones and metabolism in free-living animals and animals inhabiting seasonal environments. Here, we studied seasonal changes in triiodothyronine (T3) levels, resting metabolic rate (RMR) and two physiological markers of energy balance (blood glucose and ketone bodies) in 61 free-living African striped mice (Rhabdomys pumilio) that live in an semi-arid environment with food shortage during the dry season. We predicted a positive relationship between T3 levels and RMR. Further, we predicted higher T3 levels, blood glucose levels and RMR, but lower ketone body concentrations, during the moist season when food availability is high compared with summer when food availability is low. RMR and T3 levels were negatively related in the moist season but not in the dry season. Both RMR and T3 levels were higher in the moist than in the dry season, and T3 levels increased with increasing food availability. In the dry season, blood glucose levels were lower but ketone body concentrations were higher, indicating a change in substrate use. Seasonal adjustments in RMR and T3 levels permit a reduction of energy expenditure when food is scarce, and reflect an adaptive response to reduced food availability in the dry season. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A study was conducted to assess the impact of summer season-related heat stress and nutritional stress individually as well as simultaneously on the adaptive capability of goats. Twenty four adult Osmanabadi bucks (average body weight (BW) 16.0 kg) were divided into four groups, C (n= 6; control), HS (n= 6; heat stress), NS (n= 6; nutritional stress) and CS (n= 6; combined stress). The study was conducted for a period of 45 days. The NS and CS bucks were under restricted feed to induce nutritional stress. The HS and CS bucks were exposed to summer heat stress. The animals exhibited different physiological adaptive behavior in the morning and afternoon. Further, the higher plasma cortisol (p< 0.01) and aldosterone (p< 0.05) was recorded in CS group as compared to other groups. The highest degree of degenerative changes and hyperactivity of endocrine cells was recorded in CS group liver and adrenal gland respectively. The higher expression of adrenal and hepatic Heat Shock Protein 70 (HSP70)messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) was reported in CS and HS goats respectively. It can be concluded from this study that plasma cortisol and adrenal HSP70 gene expression may be considered as ideal biological markers for combined stresses in Osmanabadi bucks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was designed to evaluate the Pregnancy Diagnosis-Positive Rate (PD-PR) along with conception rate (CR) in an organised farm (Livestock Research Centre, National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal) to take effective management decision. One year record of Artificial Insemination (A.I.) and PD of dairy animals (N=1327; comprised 1003 cows and 324 buffaloes) was analysed. On an average, cows and buffaloes were presented for per rectal pregnancy diagnosis after 75.63 (38-119) and 76.3 (46-128) days, respectively of A.I. Overall PD-PR value of cattle was observed to be significantly higher compared to buffaloes (70.77 and 59.45%, respectively, p<0.001). However, buffaloes showed a higher trend of overall CR compared to cattle (41.28 and 46.6%, respectively, p=0.092). PD-PR value were 14.23% and 25.55% less in cattle and buffaloes, respectively compared to the farm standard i.e, 85%. The PD-PR and CR value were observed to be higher during winter season both in cattle (77.42 and 47.86%, respectively) and buffaloes (69.23 and 60.00%, respectively). However, lower value of PD-PR and CR were observed during rainy in cattle (66.14 and 36.68%, respectively) and summer in buffaloes (50.98 and 36.11%, respectively). It was evident that heat stress along with humidity has negative effect on display of oestrus symptoms as well as on CR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heat Shock Proteins (HSPs) are group of proteins which are synthesized during heat stress. HSP genes have been reported to be associated with heat tolerance and production performance in cattle. HSP90AA1 gene has been mapped on Bos taurus autosome 21 (BTA 21) and spans nearly 5368 bp comprising 11 exons out of which first exon does not translate. The present study was carried out in Sahiwal cows (n=100) with the objectives to identify SNPs in targeted regions (exon 3, 7, 8 & 11) of HSP90AA1 gene and to analyze their association with heat tolerance traits in Sahiwal cows. Respiration rate (RR) and rectal temperature (RT) was recorded once during probable extreme hours in winter, spring and summer season. Further, heat tolerance coefficient (HTC) also calculated to see the adaptability of the animals during the period of heat stress. On the basis of comparative sequence analysis, total five SNPs were revealed at position of A1209G, A3292C, T4935C, T5218C and A5224C in the targeted region of HSP90AA1 gene. Out of these, only two SNPs at A1209G and A3292C loci were found significantly associated with heat tolerance traits in Sahiwal cows. Whereas, THI has a highly significant associated with RR, RT and HTC in all the seasons. At A1209G locus in Sahiwal cows for traits RR, genotype AA (18.40±0.46a), AG (19.60±0.85b) and GG (21.18± 0.64ab) and trait HTC AA (1.78±0.04a), AG (1.85±0.03b) and GG (1.91± 0.02c) differ significantly (p<0.01) while trait RT, AG (38.32±0.10b) and GG (38.27±0.08ab) didn't differ significantly. For a locus A3292C for traits RR, genotype AA (21.55±1.01a), AC (19.66±1.59b) and CC (18.40±1.03c) differ significantly (p<0.05), while traits RT, genotype AA (38.41±0.12), AC (38.28±0.20) and CC (37.96±0.15) didn't differ significantly. For trait HTC, AA (1.93±0.04a), AC (1.85±0.06b) and CC (1.79±0.05c) found significantly (p<0.05) differ with each other. Our study indicated that Sahiwal cows of AA and AC genotype had better thermo-tolerance capacity, which had been useful for genetic improvement of Sahiwal cattle for heat tolerance traits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Expression of stress genes under thermal stress partially explain the relatively higher thermal adaptability of indigenous breeds compared to exotic breeds of cattle. ATP1A1 gene is one of such gene that encodes for α1 isomer of Na+, K+- ATPase enzyme for Na+- coupled transport of metabolites, nutrients, ions and represents a plausible candidate for heat tolerance traits. Present study was designed to compare SNP variations in ATP1A1 gene and to evaluate their association with respiration rate, rectal temperature and heat tolerance coefficient in Sahiwal (51) and Karan Fries (50) cows maintained at Livestock Research Centre of National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal. Two SNPs (T27008243C and A27008223G) were identified in both the dairy cattle breeds. Association of each SNP genotype was analyzed using Generalized Linear Model procedure in Statistical Analysis System (SAS). Sahiwal cows with TT (15.91±1.89b) at T27008243C locus had lowest RR compared to TC genotypes (18.25±1.77ab) and CC genotype (19.24±1.52a), while in Karan Fries cows RR for AA genotype at A27008223G locus was lower (28.85±1.96b) compared to GG genotype (32.37±2.51a). Thus, the study indicated that the TT genotype at T27008243C locus in Sahiwal and AA genotype at 27008223 locus in Karan Fries cows are desirable genotypes for genetic adaptability under heat stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change in India is likely to aggravate the heat stress in dairy animals due to rise in temperature coupled with increased precipitation. In animals heat stress affects the alteration of plasma Potassium (K (+)) and Sodium Na (+) ions. ATP1A1 gene belongs to the family of P-type cation transport ATPases, and to the subfamily of Na+/K+ -ATPases. Na+/K+ -ATPase is an integral membrane protein responsible for establishing and maintaining the electrochemical gradients of Na+ and K+ ions across the plasma membrane. The present study is aimed to investigate the polymorphisms in the entire coding region of ATP1A1 gene in Bos indicus (Deoni) cattle by PCR-Single-Strand Conformation Polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) and direct sequencing of variants. Sequence analysis showed 16 SNPs, of which 5 SNPs were in the coding region and the remaining 11 SNPs were detected in the non-coding region of ATP1A1 gene. All the observed variations in the coding regions of ATP1A1 gene were silent mutations. The genotypic, allelic frequencies, χ² test for Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium and Shannon's information index were calculated using POPGENE-32. The study revealed a high degree of genetic variability in ATP1A1 gene in the Deoni cattle population which indicated the utility of this gene for further studies for identification of markers associated with heat tolerance in Indian humped cattle for using in marker assisted selection for heat tolerance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seasonal changes in weather and food availability differentially impact energy budgets of small mammals such as bats. While most thermal physiological research has focused on species that experience extreme seasonal temperature variations, knowledge is lacking from less variable temperate to subtropical climates. We quantified ambient temperature ( T ) and skin temperature ( T ) responses by individuals from a population of New Zealand lesser short-tailed bats ( Mystacina tuberculata) during summer and winter using temperature telemetry. During summer, communal roosts were more thermally stable than T . During winter, solitary roosts were warmer than T indicating significant thermal buffering. Communal roost trees were used on 83 % of observation days during summer, and individuals occupying them rarely entered torpor. Solitary roosts were occupied on 93 % of observation days during winter, and 100 % of individuals occupying them used torpor. During summer and winter, bats employed torpor on 11 and 95 % of observation days, respectively. Maximum torpor bout duration was 120.8 h and winter torpor bout duration correlated negatively with mean T . Torpor bout duration did not differ between sexes, although female minimum T was significantly lower than males. The summer Heterothermy Index varied, and was also significantly affected by T . Mean arousal time was correlated with sunset time and arousals occurred most frequently on significantly warmer evenings, which are likely associated with an increased probability of foraging success. We provide the first evidence that torpor is used flexibly throughout the year by M. tuberculata, demonstrating that roost choice and season impact torpor patterns. Our results add to the growing knowledge that even small changes in seasonal climate can have large effects on the energy balance of small mammals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Information on climate that influences snowshoe hares ( Lepus americanus Erxleben, 1777) can inform adaptation strategies. We identified climate factors correlated with localized changes in occupancy of snowshoe hares in Michigan, USA. A change in occupancy occurred if a site (∼7.5 ha) knowingly occupied by hares sometime in the past became unoccupied. We used local ecological knowledge to map sites where hares historically occurred and to assign a year of last-known occupancy. At 134 historically occupied sites, we conducted snow track surveys in 2013 to determine current occupancy status. We identified climate variables having relevance to hare population demographics and modeled the likelihood that those variables influenced current occupancy status. The top-ranking model included maximum temperature from 15 May to 19 January; as maximum temperature increased, the likelihood of a site becoming unoccupied increased. The second-ranked model included total number of days with measurable snow on the ground; as days with snow on the ground decreased, the likelihood of a site becoming unoccupied increased. Our data indicated that site occupancy status of hares can be described by climate variables and that the southern edge of snowshoe hare distribution in Michigan shifted northward by ∼45 km over the last 20 years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Supplemental feeding for ungulates is a widespread practice in many human-dominated landscapes across Europe and North America, mainly intended to seasonally support populations. Surprisingly, little consideration was given so far to the effect of supplemental feeding on ungulate spatial ecology at a large scale, in management and conservation studies. Analyses of the main ecological drivers influencing the use of supplemental feeding sites by ungulates across a gradient of abiotic and biotic factors are currently lacking. We conducted a large-scale assessment of ecological and management drivers of use of feeding station sites in roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), a small cervid widely distributed across Europe that is particularly sensitive to winter severity. We tested four competing hypotheses by comparing the time spent at feeding station sites by 180 individual Global Positioning System-collared roe deer from nine populations spanning a wide latitudinal and altitudinal gradient. We found that roe deer used feeding station sites highly opportunistically in response to winter severity across its range. The harshest weather conditions at the northern range limit or the highest elevations provoked an intense use of feeding station sites, which typically peaked at the end of winter, in accordance with the adverse weather and nutritional condition hypotheses. consistently, milder winters corresponded to a reduced and/or more homogeneous use of supplemental feeding. in general, intensively used feeding station sites heavily conditioned spatial behavior of roe deer. Importantly, biotic factors such as the presence of competitors decreased roe deer use of supplemental feeding station sites. Our results emphasize the importance of this human-induced alteration to resource distribution, especially in the context of the rapidly occurring climate change that is modifying resource availability for ungulate populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bats at northern latitudes may hibernate for up to 8 months during winter and must subsist on stored fat over this period. Environmental influences on bat emergence from hibernation are not well understood, and the degree to which bat emergence coincides with availability of their insect prey is not known. We used electronic detectors to monitor bat activity from 2001 to 2013 at a major hibernaculum, used primarily by Myotis lucifugus, in Wisconsin. We estimated dates of entry into hibernation in fall and recorded bat activity as bats emerged in spring over this 13-year period. Temperatures outside and inside the mine and airflow at the mine entrance were measured. Night-flying insects were monitored during spring from 2008 to 2013. Bat activity in spring was most strongly associated with warmer temperatures outside of the mine and was also correlated with airflow in the mine entrance. Changes in airflow were driven by temperature differentials between the mine and outside, and could serve as a signal for outside temperatures to bats inside of the mine. Insect abundance was also positively correlated with warmer outside temperatures. However, bat activity peaked before insects started to become abundant. Over the 13 years of the study, the date at which 5% of bat activity for the season was reached ranged from 10 April to 20 April, and for 50% of bat activity for the season the range was from 28 April to 4 May. The date of 5% bat activity for the season was not correlated with the date of entry into hibernation the previous fall, mean winter temperatures inside or outside of the mine, or the degree days (base 0°C) inside or outside of the mine. Our study was conducted before white-nose syndrome was documented in Wisconsin, thus our study documents hibernation behavior of healthy bats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With increasing summer temperatures and milder winters, the risk of heatstroke in dogs is growing. Veterinary nurses have a vital role in identifying high-risk patients and advising owners of the risks of heatstroke. Nurses are able to recommend preventative measures and first aid necessary to minimise the risk of heatstroke; in addition to increasing the chances of survival where heatstroke does occur. This article will provide an overview of the evidence that can be presented to owners during nursing consultations and the prognosis of patients presenting with heatstroke. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Calves born to cows exposed to heat stress during late gestation (i.e., the dry period) have lower birth weight and weaning weight and compromised passive immune transfer compared with those born to dams that are cooled. However, it is unknown if heat stress in utero has carryover effects after weaning. The objective was to evaluate the effect of heat stress (HT) or cooling (CL) in late gestation dairy cows on the survival, growth, fertility, and milk production in the first lactation of their calves. Data of animals obtained from previous experiments conducted during 5 consecutive summers in Florida were pooled and analyzed. Cows were dried off 46 d before expected calving and randomly assigned to 1 of 2 treatments, HT or CL. Cooled cows were housed with sprinklers, fans, and shade, whereas only shade was provided to HT cows. Within 4 h of birth, 3.8 L of colostrum was fed to calves from both groups of cows. All calves were managed in the same manner and weaned at 49 d of age. Birth weight and survival of 146 calves (HT = 74; CL = 72) were analyzed. Additionally, body weight, growth rate, fertility, and milk production in the first lactation from 72 heifers (HT = 34; CL = 38) were analyzed. As expected, HT calves were lighter (means ± SEM; 39.1 0.7 vs. 44.8 ± 0.7 kg) at birth than CL calves. Cooled heifers were heavier up to 1 yr of age, but had similar total weight gain (means ± SEM; 305.8 ± 6.3 vs. 299.1 ± 6.3 kg, respectively) compared with HT heifers. No effect of treatment was observed on age at first insemination (AI) and age at first parturition. Compared with CL heifers, HT heifers had a greater number of services per pregnancy confirmed at d 30 after AI, but no treatment effect was observed on number of services per pregnancy confirmed at d 50 after AI. A greater percentage of CL heifers reached first lactation compared with HT heifers (85.4 vs. 65.9%). Moreover, HT heifers produced less milk up to 35 wk of the first lactation compared with CL heifers (means ± SEM; 26.8 ± 1.7 vs. 31.9 ± 1.7 kg/d), and no difference in body weight during lactation was observed (means ± SEM; HT: 568.4 ± 14.3 kg; CL: 566.5 ± 14.3 kg). These data suggest that heat stress during the last 6 wk of gestation induces a phenotype that negatively affects survival and milk production up to and through the first lactation of offspring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Arabian oryx inhabits an environment where summer ambient temperatures can exceed 40 °C for extended periods of time. While the oryx uses a suite of adaptations that aid survival, the effects of this extreme environment on inactivity are unknown. To determine how the oryx manages inactivity seasonally, we measured the daily rhythm of body temperature and used fine-grain actigraphy, in 10 animals, to reveal when the animals were inactive in relation to ambient temperature and photoperiod. We demonstrate that during the cooler winter months, the oryx was inactive during the cooler parts of the 24-h day (predawn hours), showing a nighttime (nocturnal) inactivity pattern. In contrast, in the warmer summer months, the oryx displayed a bimodal inactivity pattern, with major inactivity bouts (those greater than 1 h) occurring equally during both the coolest part of the night (predawn hours) and the warmest part of the day (afternoon hours). Of note, the timing of the daily rhythm of body temperature did not vary seasonally, although the amplitude did change, leading to a seasonal alteration in the phase relationship between inactivity and the body temperature rhythm. Because during periods of inactivity the oryx were presumably asleep for much of the time, we speculate that the daytime shift in inactivity may allow the oryx to take advantage of the thermoregulatory physiology of sleep, which likely occurs when the animal is inactive for more than 1 h, to mitigate environmentally induced increases in body temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Basking can substantially reduce thermoregulatory energy expenditure of mammals. We tested the hypothesis that the largely white winter fur of hamsters (Phodopus sungorus), originating from Asian steppes, may be related to camouflage to permit sun basking on or near snow. Winter-acclimated hamsters in our study were largely white and had a high proclivity to bask when resting and torpid. Resting hamsters reduced metabolic rate (MR) significantly (>30%) when basking at ambient temperatures (Ta) of ~15 and 0°C. Interestingly, body temperature (Tb) also was significantly reduced from 34.7±0.6°C (Ta 15°C, not basking) to 30.4±2.0°C (Ta 0°C, basking), which resulted in an extremely low (<50% of predicted) apparent thermal conductance. Induced torpor (food withheld) during respirometry at Ta 15°C occurred on 83.3±36.0% of days and the minimum torpor MR was 36% of basal MR at an average Tb of 22.0±2.6°C; movement to the basking lamp occurred at Tb<20.0°C. Energy expenditure for rewarming was significantly reduced (by >50%) during radiant heat-assisted rewarming; however, radiant heat per se without an endogenous contribution by animals did not strongly affect metabolism and Tb during torpor. Our data show that basking substantially modifies thermal energetics in hamsters, with a drop of resting Tb and MR not previously observed and a reduction of rewarming costs. The energy savings afforded by basking in hamsters suggest that this behaviour is of energetic significance not only for mammals living in deserts, where basking is common, but also for P. sungorus and probably other cold-climate mammals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Time allocation by lactating mammals is a reconciliation of often opposing nutritional and thermal demands of both the offspring and mother. Here we test the hypothesis that nest attendance patterns of lactating red squirrels (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus) vary with environmental and biological traits that relate to the thermoregulation of mothers and their offspring. We used temperature dataloggers to continuously record nest attendance and activity of free-ranging females with neonatal (n = 45) and preemergent (n = 53) litters. Lactating red squirrels concentrated activity out of the nest around the warmest parts of winter days and the coldest parts of summer days. Both younger and lighter litters had mothers that spent more time in the nest and shorter periods of time out of the nest. Females matched timing of activity within a day to the hourly air temperatures closest to their thermal neutral zone, serving to reduce individual and offspring thermoregulatory costs associated with activity. Nest attendance patterns appear to be constrained by the thermal, and possibly nutritional, requirements of the litter with females fine-tuning behavior to match constantly changing environmental and biological conditions, consistent with reduced energetic costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although climate change and the expansion of agriculture are two of the primary threats to global biodiversity, they are usually considered independently. Here, I show that climate change and agricultural expansion interact synergistically in their impacts on mammals across mega-biodiverse Southeast Asia. Rising temperatures do not directly reduce niche availability for most species but do trigger a major altitudinal expansion in the cultivation zone for oil palm ( Elaeis guineensis), a cold-intolerant crop tree that is currently restricted to tropical lowlands. The resulting replacement of native forests would reduce mammal ranges by 47-67% by 2070, given a low- or high-carbon-emissions trajectory, respectively. This reduction is 3-4 times the magnitude of that predicted from land-use change without considering climatic effects. The synergistic interaction between climate change and land-use change greatly outweighs the impact on biodiversity of either factor alone or their additive combination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to evaluate the seasonal effects of the environment on sperm quality in subtropical region determined by temperature and humidity index (THI). We used 20 Brangus bulls (5/8 Angus × 3/8 Nellore) aged approximately 24 months at the beginning of the study. Semen evaluations were performed twice per season during 1 year. Climate THI data were collected from an automatic weather station from the National Institute of Meteorology. Infrared thermography images were used to determine the temperature of the proximal and distal poles of the testis to assess the testicular temperature gradient (TG). The seasonal effects on seminal and climatic variables were analyzed with ANOVA using MIXED procedure of SAS. Sperm motility in spring (60.1 %), summer (57.6 %), and autumn (64.5 %) showed difference compared to winter (73.0 %; P < 0.01). TG was negatively correlated with THI at 18 days (spermiogenesis) (−0.76; P < 0.05) and at 12 days (epididymal transit) (−0.85; P < 0.01). Ocular temperature (OcT) had a positive correlation with THI at 18 days (0.78; P < 0.05) and at 12 days (0.84; P < 0.01). Motility showed a negative correlation with THI only at 18 days (−0.79; P < 0.05). During spermiogenesis, the TG had higher negative correlation compared to OcT (−0.97; P < 0.01) and rectal temperature (−0.72; P < 0.05). Spermatozoa with distal midpiece reflex were correlated with THI during transit epididymis (0.72; P < 0.05). Seminal parameters are not affected when THI reaches 93.0 (spermiogenesis) and 88.0 (epididymal transit). We concluded that infrared thermography can be adopted as an indirect method in order to assess the effect of environmental changes in TG and OcT of Brangus bulls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The extent to which different kinds of organisms have adapted to environmental temperature regimes is central to understanding how they respond to climate change. The Scholander-Irving (S-I) model of heat transfer lays the foundation for explaining how endothermic birds and mammals maintain their high, relatively constant body temperatures in the face of wide variation in environmental temperature. The S-I model shows how body temperature is regulated by balancing the rates of heat production and heat loss. Both rates scale with body size, suggesting that larger animals should be better adapted to cold environments than smaller animals, and vice versa. However, the global distributions of ~9,000 species of terrestrial birds and mammals show that the entire range of body sizes occurs in nearly all climatic regimes. Using physiological and environmental temperature data for 211 bird and 178 mammal species, we test for mass-independent adaptive changes in two key parameters of the S-I model: basal metabolic rate (BMR) and thermal conductance. We derive an axis of thermal adaptation that is independent of body size, extends the S-I model, and highlights interactions among physiological and morphological traits that allow endotherms to persist in a wide range of temperatures. Our macrophysiological and macroecological analyses support our predictions that shifts in BMR and thermal conductance confer important adaptations to environmental temperature in both birds and mammals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To evaluate how the course of irregular winter hibernation is recorded in the incisor teeth of Allocricetulus hamsters, an analysis was performed of the incisor surface in seven A. curtatus and two A. eversmanni hamsters and stained section of the incisors in one A. curtatus hamster. The animals were kept in cages at natural temperature and photoperiod. Five hamsters were implanted with a temperature data logger, and another five received tetracycline injections (5-20 days before death). In addition, the incisor surface was examined in eight A. curtatus and eight A. eversmanni hamsters trapped in the field. In hibernating hamsters, the duration of alternating periods of hypothermia (torpor bouts) and normothermia (arousals) and their ratio varied irregularly and randomly within and between individuals. Increments on the incisor surface were of two types: wide and poorly defined or narrow and distinct. The increments in hamsters trapped in the field were slightly more distinct than in experimental captive animals, and those in two hamsters that failed to hibernate were similarly wide and indistinct. In hibernating hamsters, wide increments proved to correspond to long periods of normothermia, while narrow increments were formed when torpor bouts alternated with short arousals. More distinct narrow increments formed when torpor bouts followed by short (no more than 1.5-days) arousals occurred in a series rather than singly. Although the number of narrow increments was approximately similar to that of short arousals, in was impossible to localize the record of each particular hypo/normothermia episode on the incisor surface. Dentin layers in stained preparations had no definite pattern and corresponded to these episodes no better than the increments on the incisor surface. In general, the narrow and distinct increments in a given Allocricetulus hamster is evidence that the animal did hibernate, and the number of such increments indicates the approximate minimum number of torpor bouts followed by arousals. The record of winter hibernation on the incisors of Allocricetulus hamsters has a pattern similar to that in Mesocricetus brandti (Batavia et al., 2013) but significantly differs from the pattern described in M. raddei (Klevezal et al., 2012). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the effects of climatic conditions on dairy farm productivity using panel data for the state of Wisconsin along with alternative stochastic frontier models. A noteworthy feature of this analysis is that Wisconsin is a major dairy-producing area where winters are typically very cold and snowy and summers are hot and humid. Thus, it is an ideal geographical region for examining the effects of a range of climatic factors on dairy production. We identified the effects of temperature and precipitation, both jointly and separately, on milk output. The analysis showed that increasing temperature in summer or in autumn is harmful for dairy production, whereas warmer winters and warmer springs are beneficial. In contrast, more precipitation had a consistent adverse effect on dairy productivity. Overall, the analysis showed that over the past 17 yr, changes in climatic conditions have had a negative effect on Wisconsin dairy farms. Alternative scenarios predict that climate change would lead to a 5 to 11% reduction in dairy production per year between 2020 and 2039 after controlling for other factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Horses in the United States are commonly managed in outside pens or pastures in small groups. Limited research on shade use by domestic horses housed singly in individual pens has shown benefits and a preference for using available shade. The objective of this study was to examine the amount of shade use and the behavioral and physiological responses of small groups of horses when housed with access to shade (SH) and without access to shade (SUN). Thirty-six horses were randomized into 3 consecutive trials using 3 horses per group and 4 groups per trial. Groups experienced 5 d in each treatment in a crossover design. Weather factors were measured with automated sensors 24 h/d throughout the study. The mean afternoon ambient temperature was 31.0°C with relative humidity of 32%. Rectal temperature, respiration rate, and skin temperature were recorded at 1000, 1330, and 1900 h daily. Venous blood samples were obtained on Days 0 and 5 to measure serum cortisol, the neutrophil:lymphocyte ratio, and hematocrit. Behavioral observations for presence in shade, standing near or away from water, locomotion, and foraging were recorded at 5-min intervals from 1400 to 1900 h daily. Insect avoidance behaviors were recorded hourly during that same time period for 1 min/horse. Horses in the SH treatment were observed using shade in 7.1% of observations between 1400 and 1900 h, and behavioral differences were observed between the SH and SUN treatments. When in the SUN treatment, horses stood near the water troughs more (18.5 vs. 14.2% of observations; P = 0.029) and foraged less (29.3 vs. 33.8% of observations; P < 0.001) than when in the SH treatment. There were no treatment differences for other behaviors or for physiological measures (P > 0.05). Provision of shade structures accessible to groups of mature, healthy horses in hot, sunny environments should be considered in developing future guidelines for best management practices for horses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ground counts during 1959-1968 compared with counts using high resolution (0.6 m2) satellite imagery during 2008-2012 indicated many fewer Weddell seals ( Leptonychotes weddellii) at two major molting areas in the western Ross Sea: Edisto Inlet-Moubray Bay, northern Victoria Land, and McMurdo Sound, southern Victoria Land. Breeding seals have largely disappeared from Edisto-Moubray, though the breeding population in McMurdo Sound appears to have recovered from harvest in the 1960s. The timing of decline, or perhaps spreading (lower numbers of seals in more places), is unknown but appears unrelated to changes in sea ice conditions. We analyzed both historic and satellite-derived ice data confirming a large expansion of pack ice mostly offshore of the Ross Sea, and not over the continental shelf (main Weddell seal habitat), and a thinning of fast ice along Victoria Land (conceivably beneficial to seals). Timing of fast ice presence and extent in coves and bays along Victoria Land, remains the same. The reduction in numbers is consistent with an altered food web, the reasons for which are complex. In the context of a recent industrial fishery targeting a seal prey species, a large-scale seal monitoring program is required to increase understanding of seal population changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In an analysis of avian and mammalian thermal tolerances recently published in this journal, Khaliq et al. () reported that endotherm thermal niches are phylogenetically conserved in tropical, but not temperate, regions. However, closer examination of the data upon which this analysis was based reveals that many of the upper critical temperature (UCT) data are not valid. Approximately 55% and 42% of avian and mammalian UCT data, respectively, originated from studies in which animals were not exposed to air temperatures high enough to elicit an increase in metabolic rate above minimum levels; the cited UCT values are merely the highest air temperatures at which measurements took place. An additional 18% and 25% of avian and mammalian UCT data, respectively, represent values based on just one individual per species and/or measurements at too few air temperatures above the thermoneutral zone (TNZ) to reliably estimate the UCT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The nasal passages mainly adjust the temperature and humidity of inhaled air to reach the alveolar condition required in the lungs. By contrast to most other non-human primates, macaque monkeys are distributed widely among tropical, temperate and subarctic regions, and thus some species need to condition the inhaled air in cool and dry ambient atmospheric areas. The internal nasal anatomy is believed to have undergone adaptive modifications to improve the airconditioning performance. Furthermore, the maxillary sinus (MS), an accessory hollow communicating with the nasal cavity, is found in macaques, whereas it is absent in most other extant Old World monkeys, including savanna monkeys. In this study, we used computational fluid dynamics simulations to simulate the airflow and heat and water exchange over the mucosal surface in the nasal passage. Using the topology models of the nasal cavity with and without the MS, we demonstrated that the MS makes little contribution to the airflow pattern and the air-conditioning performance within the nasal cavity in macaques. Instead, the inhaled air is conditioned well in the anterior portion of the nasal cavity before reaching the MS in both macaques and savanna monkeys. These findings suggest that the evolutionary modifications and coetaneous variations in the nasal anatomy are rather independent of transitions and variations in the climate and atmospheric environment found in the habitats of macaques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Before 1990, mass wintering of the noctule bat ( Nyctalus noctula) in Ukraine was known from the Ukrainian Transcarpathia and the south of the country. For the rest of Ukraine, as for other regions of Europe to the north and the northeast, the species was considered a migratory one. Today, the noctule bat is known in winter for 23 (of 25) administrative provinces of Ukraine, and winter colonies have been recorded in most of them. In Ukraine, N. noctula is a seasonal epilithic species, which hibernates mostly in multi-storey buildings serving as cliff-like structures. The retrospective analysis of bat data from Ukraine and adjacent countries shows that new records refer to the expansion of the species' winter range, which occurred during the last decades. The border of the winter range of N. noctula in Eastern Europe now lies at least 500-600 km northward than previously assumed. The analysis of the air temperature datasets demonstrates that warming of winters cannot be the only factor determining this process. Mass appearance of high buildings and roosts associated with them is thought to be an important condition driving the expansion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The milk production capacity of Kankrej cattle and Mehsana buffaloes herd at Livestock Research Station was compared from the year 2010 to 2013 to know the influence of season on production of herd and to find out the superior herd of them. The herd average of Kankrej cattle remains significantly higher throughout the year especially in summer season in comparison to Mehsana buffalo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The influence of non-genetic factors namely breed, sex, age, season and cause of death on the mortality of rabbits were studied utilizing a total of 835 mortality records over a period of 20 years. The study revealed that there is a significant difference (P<0.05) in number of pre-weaning mortalities between seasons, with more mortality in summer and least in winter season. The preweaning mortality observed in Soviet Chinchilla in summer, south-west monsoon, north-west monsoon and winter seasons were 29.53, 28.37, 27.60 and 14.48 per cent, respectively and the values observed in White Giant were 32.80, 27.12, 32.49 and 7.57 per cent, respectively. The postweaning mortality did not differ significantly between breeds, sexes and seasons. The cause of death did not influence the number of mortality between four seasons of the year. However, pneumonia and enteritis resulted in more mortalities than other causes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this work was to verify the adaptability of crossbred calves (Holstein x Gyr) created in the field and in the facilities in Bom Jesus, PI. Six crossbred calves (Holstein x Gyr) were distributed in two treatments: T1= Field and T2= Facilities, with three animals in each, with 32 repeated measurements over time, totaling 192 observations (6 animals x 32 repetitions per animal) during the experimental period. The physiological characteristics, such as respiratory rate (RR), heart rate (HR), rectal temperature (RT), and the sweating rate (SR) were recorded. The meteorological variables were: air temperature (AT), relative humidity (RH), globe temperature index and humidity (BGT1 and BGT2), where BGT1 was inside the facilities and BGT2 in the open field. All weather variables showed significant differences (p<0.05) between shifts (morning and afternoon). It was found that RT and SR showed no significant difference (p>0.05). The RR was higher (p<0.05) for T1, with an average of 55.88 mov/min. There was a significant difference (p<0.05) between treatments for HR, with averages of 92.19 and 86.25 bat/min. for T1 and T2, respectively. According to the results it can be stated that the facilities for calves positively influenced the performance of heat loss, giving values closer to the comfort zone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to describe the differences in freestall cleanliness and stall temperature between a barn with Dual Chamber Cow Waterbeds (DCCW; Advanced Comfort Technology, Reedsburg, WI) and a barn with rubber-filled mattresses at the University of Kentucky Coldstream Dairy Research Farm from January 18, 2012, to May 3, 2013. Stall cleanliness was measured twice weekly (n = 134) by the same 2 observers using a 0.91 m x 0.91 m wire grid containing 128 equally sized rectangles (10.16 cm x 5.08 cm). This grid was centered at the rear portion of the stall; a rectangle that was visibly wet or had any amount of feces present was defined as a dirty rectangle. Weekly stall temperature (n = 66) was measured by the same observer during a.m. milkings in the same predetermined stalls. Feces and wet sawdust were removed from the stalls before stall temperatures were acquired. Temperatures were obtained using a handheld thermometer at 30.48 cm above the stall base as determined via dual laser measurements. Stall temperature was measured on the front, middle, and back of the stall first with clean sawdust and then with the sawdust removed from the stall and wiped clean with a towel. Daily temperature-humidity index (THI) was calculated using Kentucky climate data calculated through the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture via a Campbell Scientific Inc. 23x data logger, located 5.63 km from the Coldstream Dairy Farm. Stall cleanliness was not different between the DCCW barn (26.09 ± 0.89 rectangles) and the rubber-filled mattress barn (23.70 ± 0.89 rectangles). Mean THI throughout the study was 64.39 ± 0.82. Stall temperature was different among THI categories. Temperature-humidity index categories 1 (coldest), 2, 3, and 4 (warmest) had THI ranges of 22.94 to 50.77, 50.77 to 64.88, 64.88 to 78.75, and 78.75 to 101.59, respectively. Stall temperatures (°C; least squares means ± SE) were 2.26 ± 0.30, 8.86 ± 0.30, 15.52 ± 0.30, and 20.95 ± 0.30 for THI categories 1 to 4, respectively. Stalls with rubber-filled mattresses had a lower temperature (°C) than DCCW with least squares means ± SE of 10.52 ± 0.21°C and 13.29 ± 0.21°C, respectively. The DCCW were probably significantly warmer because water holds heat well. The DCCW may have more of a heat-insulating effect compared with rubber-filled mattresses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Population resilience in a metapopulation of American pikas ( Ochotona princeps) at Bodie, California, was investigated with a series of 18 detailed occupancy surveys conducted between 1989 and 2010. These were compared with earlier 1972 and 1977 censuses and earlier historical records of pikas at Bodie. There is concern that American pikas may be increasingly vulnerable to warm temperatures due to climate change, and this investigation represents the longest study of the species in a relatively low-elevation (warm) environment. The Bodie pika population represents one of the best mammalian examples of a classic metapopulation system. Annual number of observed patch extinctions (total = 114) and recolonizations (109) varied greatly among the 18 census intervals. There has been no decline in percent of patches occupied in the northern half of the study area since 1972, and the number of documented pikas in the north in recent surveys exceeded the numbers found in 1972 and 1977. In contrast, the southern half of the metapopulation collapsed during our study, apparently the result of stochasticity of metapopulation dynamics; no southern patches were occupied after 2006. The potential impact of temperature on metapopulation dynamics was examined using long-term chronic (average summer monthly maximum) and acute threshold (number of days ≥ 25°C and ≥ 28°C within a year) temperatures. There is no evidence that warming temperatures have directly and negatively affected pika persistence at Bodie. Neither warm chronic nor acute temperatures increased the frequency of extinctions of populations on patches, and relatively cooler chronic or acute temperatures did not lead to an increase in the frequency of recolonization events. Warm temperatures, however, could have impeded the dispersal of colonists moving from north to south, thus contributing to the failure of the southern region to become repopulated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study was carried out to investigate the effect of watering frequency on feed intake, milk production and composition in Sahiwal cattle during summer at the Livestock Experiment Station, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad. Twelve cows, almost at same number and stage of lactation were selected, and divided into three groups viz. G-1. G-2 and G-3 in a completely randomized design. Three Treatments including: watering twice a day, watering thrice a day and ad libitum watering were allocated to these groups. Animals were housed individually for individual watering and feeding. Green fodder was offered ad libitum to cows of all treatment groups and concentrate was offered 2.0 kg per cow per day as a production allowance. Results showed that watering frequency had a significant (P<0.001) effect on water intake, dry matter intake, milk production and digestibility. The water intake in cows of group G-1, G-2 and G-3 was 37.09, 40.20 and 40.68 liters, respectively. Dry matter intake in cows of group G-1, G-2 and G-3 was 9.90, 10.60 and 10.67 kg, respectively. Milk production in G-1, G-2 and G-3 was 6.41, 7.52 and 7.46 liters, respectively. Digestibility of feed in cows of group-G1, group-G2 and group-G3 was 73.37%, 66.08% and 69.74%, respectively. Watering frequency had a significant effect (P<0.001) on water intake, dry matter intake, digestibility percentage and milk production. The watering frequency however, showed non-significant effect on milk composition in all treatment groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At broad spatial scales, species richness is strongly related to climate. Yet, few ecological studies attempt to identify regularities in the individual species distributions that make up this pattern. Models used to describe species distributions typically model very complex responses to climate. Here, we test whether the variability in the distributions of birds and mammals of the Americas relates to mean annual temperature and precipitation in a simple, consistent way. Specifically, we test if simple mathematical models can predict, as a fi rst approximation, the geographical variation in individual species' probability of occupancy for 3277 non-migratory bird and 1659 mammal species. We fi nd a Gaussian model, where the probability of occupancy of a 104 km² quadrat decreases symmetrically and gradually around a species 'optimal' temperature and precipitation, was generally the best model, explaining an average of 35% of the deviance in probability of occupancy. Th e inclusion of additional terms had very small and idiosyncratic eff ects across species. Th e Gaussian occupancy-climate relationship appears general among species and taxa and explains nearly as much deviance as complex models including many more parameters. Th erefore, we propose that hypotheses aiming to explain the broad-scale distribution of species or species richness must also predict generally Gaussian occupancy-climate relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]