Predictability of food supply modulates nocturnal hypothermia in a small passerine.

ABSTRACT: The combination of short days and long cold winter nights, in temperate regions, presents a major challenge for small diurnal birds. Small birds regularly employ heterothermy and enter rest-phase hypothermia during winter nights to conserve energy. However, we know little about how environmental conditions, such as food availability, shape these strategies. We experimentally manipulated food availability in winter to free-living great tits Parus major. A 'predictable' and constant food supply was provided to birds in one area of a forest, while birds in another area did not have access to a reliable supplementary food source. We found that predictability of food affected the extent of nocturnal hypothermia, but the response differed between the sexes. Whereas male nocturnal body temperatur

SUBMITTER: Nilsson JF 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7336851 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature