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<p>Endothermic species inhabiting mountainous regions rely upon physiological and/or behavioral adaptations to cope with high thermal variability. We examined how Columbian ground squirrels (<i>Urocitellus columbianus</i>), high latitude, montane, hibernating rodents, cope with periods of low and high ambient temperatures during their active season. Combining bio-logging activity data and behavioral observations over a 3-year period, including the hottest year on record over a 32-year long-term study, we found that these relatively small endotherms (~ 400&#xa0;g) minimized the costs of thermoregulation during their active season through behavioral flexibility. During cold days, ground-squirrels emerged later and concentrated their activity in the warmer afternoon hours. In contrast, during hot days, they shifted activity patterns towards early mornings and late evenings, and towards more shaded areas of their habitat. Shifted activity patterns and concentrated foraging activity enabled them to maintain essential foraging time during the warmest days. At low temperatures, however, trade-offs were apparent: while behavioral flexibility enabled ground-squirrels to escape the coldest energy-costly hours of the day, it also substantially reduced available foraging time. Our results provided evidence of a high level of behavioral flexibility in response to cold and hot weather periods in this high altitude and latitude hibernator.</p>

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Columbian ground squirrels cope with high thermal variability of montane habitats through behavioral thermoregulation

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年6月3日

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  • Anouch Tamian,
  • Claire Saraux,
  • Alexandra Scheubel,
  • Sylvia Pardonnet,
  • Dominique Filippi,
  • F. Stephen Dobson,
  • Vincent A. Viblanc

摘要

Endothermic species inhabiting mountainous regions rely upon physiological and/or behavioral adaptations to cope with high thermal variability. We examined how Columbian ground squirrels (Urocitellus columbianus), high latitude, montane, hibernating rodents, cope with periods of low and high ambient temperatures during their active season. Combining bio-logging activity data and behavioral observations over a 3-year period, including the hottest year on record over a 32-year long-term study, we found that these relatively small endotherms (~ 400 g) minimized the costs of thermoregulation during their active season through behavioral flexibility. During cold days, ground-squirrels emerged later and concentrated their activity in the warmer afternoon hours. In contrast, during hot days, they shifted activity patterns towards early mornings and late evenings, and towards more shaded areas of their habitat. Shifted activity patterns and concentrated foraging activity enabled them to maintain essential foraging time during the warmest days. At low temperatures, however, trade-offs were apparent: while behavioral flexibility enabled ground-squirrels to escape the coldest energy-costly hours of the day, it also substantially reduced available foraging time. Our results provided evidence of a high level of behavioral flexibility in response to cold and hot weather periods in this high altitude and latitude hibernator.