Searching for the Haplorrhine Heterotherm: Field and Laboratory Data of Free-Ranging Tarsiers
The observation of heterothermy in a single suborder (Strepsirrhini) only within the primates is puzzling. Given that the placental-mammal ancestor was likely a heterotherm, we explored the potential for heterothermy in a primate closely related to the Strepsirrhini. Based upon phylogeny, body size...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2017-09-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Physiology |
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| Online Access: | http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fphys.2017.00745/full |
| _version_ | 1818219251252592640 |
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| author | Shaun Welman Andrew A. Tuen Barry G. Lovegrove |
| author_facet | Shaun Welman Andrew A. Tuen Barry G. Lovegrove |
| author_sort | Shaun Welman |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The observation of heterothermy in a single suborder (Strepsirrhini) only within the primates is puzzling. Given that the placental-mammal ancestor was likely a heterotherm, we explored the potential for heterothermy in a primate closely related to the Strepsirrhini. Based upon phylogeny, body size and habitat stability since the Late Eocene, we selected western tarsiers (Cephalopachus bancanus) from the island of Borneo. Being the sister clade to Strepsirrhini and basal in Haplorrhini (monkeys and apes), we hypothesized that C. bancanus might have retained the heterothermic capacity observed in several small strepsirrhines. We measured resting metabolic rate, subcutaneous temperature, evaporative water loss and the percentage of heat dissipated through evaporation, at ambient temperatures between 22 and 35°C in fresh-caught wild animals (126.1 ± 2.4 g). We also measured core body temperatures in free-ranging animals. The thermoneutral zone was 25–30°C and the basal metabolic rate was 3.52 ± 0.06 W.kg−1 (0.65 ± 0.01 ml O2.g−1.h−1). There was no evidence of adaptive heterothermy in either the laboratory data or the free-ranging data. Instead, animals appeared to be cold sensitive (Tb ~ 31°C) at the lowest temperatures. We discuss possible reasons for the apparent lack of heterothermy in tarsiers, and identify putative heterotherms within Platyrrhini. We also document our concern for the vulnerability of C. bancanus to future temperature increases associated with global warming. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-12T07:36:41Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c26f5f3488db4d8bb22da6f6eaaeb099 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-042X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-12T07:36:41Z |
| publishDate | 2017-09-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Physiology |
| spelling | doaj.art-c26f5f3488db4d8bb22da6f6eaaeb0992022-12-22T00:32:54ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Physiology1664-042X2017-09-01810.3389/fphys.2017.00745277354Searching for the Haplorrhine Heterotherm: Field and Laboratory Data of Free-Ranging TarsiersShaun Welman0Andrew A. Tuen1Barry G. Lovegrove2School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South AfricaInstitute of Biodiversity and Environmental Conservation, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Kota Samarahan, MalaysiaSchool of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South AfricaThe observation of heterothermy in a single suborder (Strepsirrhini) only within the primates is puzzling. Given that the placental-mammal ancestor was likely a heterotherm, we explored the potential for heterothermy in a primate closely related to the Strepsirrhini. Based upon phylogeny, body size and habitat stability since the Late Eocene, we selected western tarsiers (Cephalopachus bancanus) from the island of Borneo. Being the sister clade to Strepsirrhini and basal in Haplorrhini (monkeys and apes), we hypothesized that C. bancanus might have retained the heterothermic capacity observed in several small strepsirrhines. We measured resting metabolic rate, subcutaneous temperature, evaporative water loss and the percentage of heat dissipated through evaporation, at ambient temperatures between 22 and 35°C in fresh-caught wild animals (126.1 ± 2.4 g). We also measured core body temperatures in free-ranging animals. The thermoneutral zone was 25–30°C and the basal metabolic rate was 3.52 ± 0.06 W.kg−1 (0.65 ± 0.01 ml O2.g−1.h−1). There was no evidence of adaptive heterothermy in either the laboratory data or the free-ranging data. Instead, animals appeared to be cold sensitive (Tb ~ 31°C) at the lowest temperatures. We discuss possible reasons for the apparent lack of heterothermy in tarsiers, and identify putative heterotherms within Platyrrhini. We also document our concern for the vulnerability of C. bancanus to future temperature increases associated with global warming.http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fphys.2017.00745/fullmetabolismprimate thermoregulationtropicsevolutiontarsiers |
| spellingShingle | Shaun Welman Andrew A. Tuen Barry G. Lovegrove Searching for the Haplorrhine Heterotherm: Field and Laboratory Data of Free-Ranging Tarsiers Frontiers in Physiology metabolism primate thermoregulation tropics evolution tarsiers |
| title | Searching for the Haplorrhine Heterotherm: Field and Laboratory Data of Free-Ranging Tarsiers |
| title_full | Searching for the Haplorrhine Heterotherm: Field and Laboratory Data of Free-Ranging Tarsiers |
| title_fullStr | Searching for the Haplorrhine Heterotherm: Field and Laboratory Data of Free-Ranging Tarsiers |
| title_full_unstemmed | Searching for the Haplorrhine Heterotherm: Field and Laboratory Data of Free-Ranging Tarsiers |
| title_short | Searching for the Haplorrhine Heterotherm: Field and Laboratory Data of Free-Ranging Tarsiers |
| title_sort | searching for the haplorrhine heterotherm field and laboratory data of free ranging tarsiers |
| topic | metabolism primate thermoregulation tropics evolution tarsiers |
| url | http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fphys.2017.00745/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT shaunwelman searchingforthehaplorrhineheterothermfieldandlaboratorydataoffreerangingtarsiers AT andrewatuen searchingforthehaplorrhineheterothermfieldandlaboratorydataoffreerangingtarsiers AT barryglovegrove searchingforthehaplorrhineheterothermfieldandlaboratorydataoffreerangingtarsiers |