Body Composition and Energy Savings by Hibernation: Lessons from the South American Marsupial <i>Dromiciops gliroides</i>

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dc.contributor.authorMejias, Carlos
dc.contributor.authorNavedo, Juan G.
dc.contributor.authorSabat, Pablo
dc.contributor.authorFranco, Lida M.
dc.contributor.authorBozinovic, Francisco
dc.contributor.authorNespolo, Roberto F.
dc.date.accessioned2025-01-20T21:08:13Z
dc.date.available2025-01-20T21:08:13Z
dc.date.issued2022
dc.description.abstractHibernation (i.e., seasonal or multiday torpor) has been described in mammals from five continents and represents an important adaptation for energy economy. However, direct quantifications of energy savings by hibernation are challenging because of the complexities of estimating energy expenditure in the field. Here, we applied quantitative magnetic resonance to determine body fat and body composition in hibernating Dromiciops gliroides (monito del monte). During an experimental period of 31 d in winter, fat was significantly reduced by 5.72 +/- 0.45 g, and lean mass was significantly reduced by 2.05 +/- 0.14 g. This fat and lean mass consumption is equivalent to a daily energy expenditure of hibernation (DEEH) of 8.89 +/- 0.6 kJ d(-1) , representing 13.4% of basal metabolic rate, with a proportional contribution of fat and lean mass consumption to DEEH of 81% and 18%, respectively. During the deep heterothermic bouts of monitos, body temperature remained 0.41 degrees C +/- 0.2 degrees C above ambient temperature, typical of hibernators. Animals shut down metabolism and passively cool down to a critical defended temperature of 5.0 degrees C +/- 0.1 degrees C, where they begin thermoregulation in torpor. Using temperature data loggers, we obtained an empirical estimation of minimum thermal conductance of 3.37 +/- 0.19 J g(-1) h(-1) degrees C-1, which is 107% of the expectation by allometric equations. With this, we parameterized body temperature/ambient temperature time series to calculate torpor parameters and metabolic rates in euthermia and torpor. Whereas the acute metabolic fall in each torpor episode is about 96%, the energy saved by hibernation is 88% (compared with the DEE of active animals), which coincides with values from the literature at similar body mass. Thus, estimating body composition provides a simple method to measure the energy saved by hibernation in mammals.
dc.fuente.origenWOS
dc.identifier.doi10.1086/719932
dc.identifier.eissn1537-5293
dc.identifier.issn1522-2152
dc.identifier.urihttps://doi.org/10.1086/719932
dc.identifier.urihttps://repositorio.uc.cl/handle/11534/93464
dc.identifier.wosidWOS:000791326500002
dc.issue.numero3
dc.language.isoen
dc.pagina.final250
dc.pagina.inicio239
dc.revistaPhysiological and biochemical zoology
dc.rightsacceso restringido
dc.subjectquantitative magnetic resonance
dc.subjectbody composition
dc.subjectlean mass
dc.subjecthibernation energy savings
dc.subjectallometric scaling
dc.subjectdaily energy expenditure (DEE)
dc.subject.ods13 Climate Action
dc.subject.ods15 Life on Land
dc.subject.odspa13 Acción por el clima
dc.subject.odspa15 Vida de ecosistemas terrestres
dc.titleBody Composition and Energy Savings by Hibernation: Lessons from the South American Marsupial <i>Dromiciops gliroides</i>
dc.typeartículo
dc.volumen95
sipa.indexWOS
sipa.trazabilidadWOS;2025-01-12
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