CONTINUOUS PHYSIOLOGICAL MEASUREMENTS FROM UNRESTRAINED ARCTIC GROUND SQUIRRELS (CITELLUS PARRYI),
Abstract
Mammals which hibernate also possess the well-known day-night rhythms of sleep and wakefulness. These behavioral and physiological rhythms are referred to as circadian (about 24-hour) or daily rhythms. They are particularly important to the student of hibernation because they exist in one form or another during mammalian dormancy and thus they represent a biological process indendent of temperature. The present paper concerns the daily rhythms of the ground squirrels which live in continuous light in the Arctic. Most of the life of the Arctic population of this species is spent without any regular daily environmental clue which would control a daily pattern of sleep and wakefulness. In 1955 the author pointed out the need of making observations in the Arctic; but not until 1960 was the first work begun, an intensive and thorough study by Swade. In 1961 and 1962 the author recorded the rhythms of a series of Arctic mammals at Barrow, Alaska. Radio capsules were used so that not only could daily rhythms be registered from unrestrained animals but also evidence of semihibernation could be recorded. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1964
- Accession Number
- AD0618785
Entities
People
- G. Edgar Folk Jr.
- Mary A. Folk