Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 5, 2026
10:07
Thermal Imaging to Study Stress Non-invasively in Unrestrained Birds
Published on: November 6, 2015
Behavioral thermoregulation in mammals: a review
Jeremy Terrien1, Martine Perret, Fabienne Aujard
1Adaptive Mechanisms and Evolution, UMR 7179, National Centre for Scientific Research, National Museum of Natural History, Brunoy, France.
Frontiers in Bioscience (Landmark Edition)
|January 4, 2011
Summary
Mammals use behavioral strategies to manage body temperature, reducing energy costs during cold or heat exposure. These adjustments help maintain homeostasis by balancing heat production and loss.
Area of Science:
- Physiology
- Animal Behavior
- Homeostasis
Background:
- Thermoregulation is crucial for mammalian homeostasis and energy balance.
- Physiological responses to thermal changes increase energy expenditure.
- Behavioral adjustments can minimize autonomic work and reduce thermoregulatory costs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review behavioral strategies mammals use to cope with temperature fluctuations.
- To explore how behavior impacts energy expenditure in thermoregulation.
- To discuss factors influencing thermoregulatory adjustments.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of mammalian behavioral thermoregulation.
- Analysis of physiological and energetic costs associated with thermoregulation.
- Examination of behavioral adjustments for cold and heat avoidance.
Main Results:
- Behavioral strategies reduce metabolic costs during cold exposure (hypothermia avoidance).
- Behavioral adjustments help avoid hyperthermia and dehydration during heat exposure.
- Thermoregulation is influenced by central, metabolic, energetic, and endocrine systems.
Conclusions:
- Behavioral adjustments are vital for energy conservation in thermoregulation.
- Factors like time of day, season, gender, and aging affect thermoregulatory responses.
- Understanding these behaviors is key to comprehending mammalian adaptation to thermal environments.
Related Concept Videos
01:26Thermoregulation
The human body has a sophisticated thermoregulation system that employs negative feedback mechanisms to maintain an optimal core temperature. When the core temperature drops, peripheral and central thermoreceptors send signals to the hypothalamus, activating the heat-promoting center. This center triggers several responses aimed at increasing the core temperature. First, vasoconstriction reduces the flow of warm blood from internal organs to the skin so that the heat is not lost from the skin,...
01:25Body Temperature
The body's temperature, measured in degrees, is determined by the balance between heat production and dissipation to the surrounding environment. For instance, if exercising vigorously, the body will produce more heat, causing sweat and dissipating that heat. Despite extreme environmental conditions and physical exertion, the human temperature-control system maintains a constant core body temperature (the temperature of deep tissues, which are the tissues located beneath the skin and other...
01:07Body Temperature
Body temperature reflects the equilibrium between heat production and heat loss within the body. Most heat is generated by metabolically active tissues, particularly the liver, heart, brain, kidneys, and endocrine organs. At rest, skeletal muscles contribute 20–30% of total heat production, but during vigorous exercise, this can increase up to 30–40 times.
The average body temperature is approximately 37°C (98.6°F) and typically ranges from 36.1–37.2°C (97–99°F), remaining relatively stable...
The average body temperature is approximately 37°C (98.6°F) and typically ranges from 36.1–37.2°C (97–99°F), remaining relatively stable...
01:19Mechanism of heat transfer
Understanding heat transfer mechanisms is essential for understanding how our bodies maintain balance in different environmental conditions. When the environment is thermoneutral, the body is in a state of balance, neither using nor releasing energy to maintain its core temperature. However, when the environment is not thermoneutral, the body employs four heat transfer mechanisms to maintain homeostasis: conduction, convection, evaporation, and radiation. These mechanisms facilitate heat...
01:19Homeostatic Imbalances in Body Temperature
Hyperthermia occurs when the body's temperature becomes unusually high, often due to heat exposure, intense physical activity, or certain illnesses. This condition can create a dangerous cycle where elevated body temperature increases the metabolic rate, generating more heat and potentially leading to organ failure and brain damage. A severe form of hyperthermia, called heat stroke, can raise body temperature to life-threatening levels. Fever, on the other hand, is a controlled form of...
01:28Factors Affecting Body Temperature
As a nurse, it is vital to understand the factors affecting body temperature to monitor variations and effectively evaluate deviations from regular.
Factors may include:
Factors may include: