Thermoregulation and Behaviour
Large mammals are constrained by their need to thermoregulate.
Thermoregulation has costs, expending key resources such as water and energy.
This means that animals should choose behaviours that limit these costs through space and time.
But prioritizing thermoregulation means sacrificing other needs. How do large mammals navigate tradeoffs between staying cool, obtaining food, and avoiding predators?
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A first-of-its-kind experiment.
We are studying how animals change their behaviour when their ability to thermoregulate is manipulated.
By shortening antelope fur, we can reduce the amount of water they use to sweat during hot periods, and raise the amount of energy they burn during cold periods.
GPS collars will enable us to compare the habitats chosen by antelope before and after the experiment relative to the distribution of food, heat, and risk.
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THERMO-
REGULATORY
COSTS
Does animal behaviour shift in response to the costs of thermoregulation?
TRADEOFFS
Does the need to thermoregulate constrain the way that animals navigate tradeoffs between food, water, and safety?
SCALE
How do tradeoffs between resources vary across space and time? How does habitat use accommodate for habitat selection?
IMPACTS
How do behavioural decisions impact animals' physiology, diets, and condition?