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Microclimatic stability in burrows of an Afrotropical solitary bathyergid rodent, the silvery mole-rat (Heliophobius argenteocinereus)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 July 2004

Radim šumbera ,
W. N. Chitaukali ,
M. Elichová ,
J. Kubová  and
H. Burda
Radim šumbera
Affiliation:
Department of Zoology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská 31, CZ-370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic
W. N. Chitaukali
Affiliation:
Section of Mammals, Museums of Malawi, P.O. Box 30360, Chichiri, Blantyre 3, Malawi
M. Elichová
Affiliation:
Faculty of Health and Social Studies, University of South Bohemia, Jiacute;rovcova 24, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
J. Kubová
Affiliation:
Agency for Nature Conservation and Landscape Protection of the Czech Republic, Přemysla Otakara II 34, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
H. Burda
Affiliation:
Department of General Zoology, Faculty of Bio- and Geosciences (FB 9), University of Duisburg-Essen, D-45117 Essen, Germany
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Abstract

Mean depth and mean size of burrow system components, burrow-soil temperatures and actual diurnal temperatures, humidity and oxygen concentration in burrows of silvery mole-rats Heliophobius argenteocinereus were measured in two mesic areas in Malawi. Mesic tropic climate, together with soil and plant cover contribute to a diurnally and seasonally stable microclimate even in shallow burrows. Daily and seasonal changes of burrow temperatures were lower compared to those in bathyergids from temperate areas where ambient and burrow temperatures undergo larger fluctuations. Silvery mole-rats in Malawi are thus probably not distressed by these environmental factors.

Keywords

HeliophobiusmicroenvironmentBathyergidaeoxygenhumiditytemperature
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Zoology , Volume 263 , Issue 4 , August 2004 , pp. 409 - 416
Copyright
2004 The Zoological Society of London

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