Thermoregulatory Adaptations

of Terrestrial Polar Mammals

Thermoregulation
 Thermoregulation is the result of biofeedback to
control systems in the central nervous system
responsible for regulating internal body
temperature.
Thermoneutral Zone
 Determines an animal’s cost of heat production
in a cold environment.
 The range in which metabolic rate is
unaffected by temperature.

Arctic mammals vs. Warm climate mammals

Sweating Threshold Sweating Threshold

Thermoneutral Zone Thermoneutral Zone

Shivering Threshold Shivering Threshold

Critical Temperature
 Lowering Critical Temperature
 Arctic mammals tend to have a low critical
temperature and only increase metabolic rates when
the temperature drops to a certain point

Example: The Arctic Fox,

Vulpes lagopus
 Metabolic rate does not increase

until temperature drops below -40ºC

 At -70ºC metabolic rate has only
increased by 50%
Non-shivering Thermogenesis
 Heat production without an actual increase in
muscular activity.
 Brown fat is the main site of non-shivering
thermogenesis.
 Brown fat is a vascular adipose tissue found in the
neck, thorax and around major blood vessels
supplying the heart and brain.
 Hibernating and newborn terrestrial mammals have
an abundance of brown fat.
Counter-current Exchange
Heat Conservation
 Circulation to the periphery is restricted.

 Heat is transferred from high temperatures to lower

temperatures through conduction.

Counter-current Exchange
Counter-current Exchange
Heat Dissipation
 Increased blood supply from the peripheries

circulates through the body as opposed to warmer

blood from the core
Fur Layers
Animal Behaviour

 Hibernation

 Snow Dens

 Walking Slowly

 Swimming
Conclusion
 Because of such harsh
environments in the
Arctic, many animals
have evolved unique
adaptive mechanisms
that allow them to
survive and flourish in
these environments.
References
 Best, R. (1982). Thermoregulation in resting and active polar bears. Journal of Comparative Physiology,
146, 73-63.
 Blix, A., & Steen, J. (1979). Temperature regulation in newborn polar homeotherms. Physiological
Reviews,
59(2), 285- 304.
 Gordon, M. (1968). Animal function: Principles and adaptations. Toronto: Macmillan.
 Hoar, W. (1983). General comparative physiology (3rd ed.). New Jersey: Prentice-Hall.
 Noren, S., Pearson, L., Davis, J., Trumble, S., & Kanatous, S. (2008). Different thermoregulatory
strategies
nearly weaned pup, yearling, and adult weddell seals (Leptonychotes weddelli). Physiological and
Biochemical Zoology, 81(6), 868-879.
 Schmidt-Nielson, K. (1997). Animal physiology: Adaptation and environment (5th ed.). Cambridge
England:
Cambridge University Press
 SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment. (2002). Polar Bears. Retrieved from
http://www.seaworld.org/infobooks/polarbears/pbadaptations.html
Questions?