Winter body temperature in the black-lipped pikas, Ochotona curzoniae, in their natural habitat

Abstract

The pikas, Ochotona, living in cold zone or in high mountains prefer cold and are weak to heat. They were reported to be diurnal, most active at dawn and dusk, or active in day and night after the field observations. We have previously studied pikas' body temperature rhythm in their natural habitat using bio-telemetry devices and showed that the pikas are essentially diurnal and may vary their activity rhythm from diurnal in the relatively cool environment to a crepuscular (dawn and dusk) pattern in the relatively hot environment to avoid the heat during midday. In this study, we monitored body temperature in wild black-lipped pikas, Ochotona cruzoniae, in their natural habitat in Qinghai, China during mid-winter season. [J Physiol Sci. 2006;56 Suppl:S103]