Newtonian cooling and reptilian thermal ecology

• Main Author: Maine, Carol
• Format: Others
• Language: en
• Published: McGill University 1991
• Subjects: Reptiles > Physiology.; Body temperature > Regulation.; Animal heat.
• Online Access: http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=60515

The effects of experimental variables (wind speed, fluid type, animal restraint, etc.) on the thermal time constant are analyzed. Results suggest that insufficient attention paid to these variables has resulted in equivocal results. A model is proposed that could normalize some of these variables and provide a better basis for the theoretical interpretation of reptile thermal ecology. Modelled literature data indicate that: (1) very small reptiles (20 g or less) are able to control their rates of heat exchange; (2) aquatic reptiles probably have the same ability to thermoregulate as terrestrial reptiles; (3) variations in the reported thermal time constants of turtles might reflect changes in surface area; (4) changes in humidity (without condensation) will not affect Tau; (5) constant or variable metabolic rates cannot account for differences between heating and cooling thermal time constants; (6) constant or variable metabolic rates are not likely to lead to the evolution of homeothermy.