Basking in the Sun

Ever wonder how large mammals survive the cold winter with food being scarce? Animals that live in mountainous areas face a problem because there is plenty of food in the summer but it is scarce in the winter. Winter temperatures are extremely low, so the animals need to use up a lot of energy to keep warm. Small mammals tend to hibernate but large mammals generally do not. The Alpine ibex have an interesting method to coping with winter.

Researchers from the Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology equipped a number of the ibex with sensors for measuring heart rate, temperature in the stomach and locomotor activity and monitored the results during a period of two years.

The first thing they found was that the ibex lowered their heart rate significantly in the winter in order to conserve energy. Also the body temperature fluctuated twice as large in winter as summer. The animals will bask in the sun until around noon til increase their body temperature.

This method is interested for a large mammal because when you think of basking you think of reptiles. It has been observed in smaller mammals but is rare for large mammals to take part in. The ability to take advantage external sources of heat is common to all mammals. Mammals can adapt to conserve body reserves during times when food is scarce.

source: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/02/110201083936.htm

Bryan Faas