Introduction

Animals require a relatively steady supply of energy to sustain biological functions. Although these energy demands are somewhat continual, both daily and seasonal fluctuations in energy requirements occur as physiological and behavioral activities wax and wane. Animals typically do not feed continuously to supply constant energy to cells; rather, adaptations have evolved to store and conserve energy. Eventually, however, the chronic need for energy depletes stores and requires animals to obtain food. In most habitats, significant daily and seasonal fluctuations in food availability occur. For example, outside of the tropics, food availability is generally low during winter, whereas thermogenic energy demands are typically high. Consequently, energy intake and energy expenditures are never perfectly balanced because of fluctuations in both energy requirements and energy availability.

Most animals restrict breeding to specific times of the year when food is abundant and survival and reproductive success are most likely. Inhibition of winter breeding is one of the central components of a suite of energy-saving adaptations evolved among nontropical animals (Goldman & Nelson 1993).