ENVIRONMENTAL PHYSIOLOGY OF ARCTIC AND ALPINE MAMMALS

Abstract

This analysis examines the adaptations to very cold conditions that animals living in the Arctic and the Alps make to their bodies and their genes.  We assessed the cold-adaptive behavior in species such as the caribou, Arctic fox and alpine marmot under a multimethod approach that incorporates the utility of telemetry-based field observation, environmental information logging and genomic/hormonal phenotyping.  It also collected real-time data in the core body temperature, VO 2 max and heart rate along with the environmental factors such as wind speed, depth of snow among others.  Faster production of heat ensured that animals in the Arctic maintained their body temperature in such low temperatures, as the animals produced will could sustain their body temperatures at a constant rate due to higher frequencies of the UCP1 and TRPM8 genes.  Alpine species were more reactive to the hormone, containing more cortisol and thyroid hormones. This is an indication that they adapt to the stress in a manner that is different.  The multivariate regression and PCA analysis affirmed that alteration of the environment affected the physiology of Alpine species much more than those of Arctic species.  These findings indicate that different species show different methods of adjusting to the chill and that they can be more prone to climate change in the future.  The research provides us with an instrument to quantify eco-physiological stability and also plan specific protection operations.