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Detecting spring after a long winter: coma or slow vigilance in cold, hypoxic turtles?
Jesper G Madsen1, Tobias Wang, Kristian Beedholm
1Zoophysiology, Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, , Building 1131, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark.
Biology Letters
|October 11, 2013
Summary
Hibernating freshwater turtles are not comatose, but remain vigilant. They maintain neural responsiveness to light and temperature cues, allowing them to detect spring
Area of Science:
- Zoology
- Animal Physiology
- Ecology
Background:
- Freshwater turtles overwinter in cold, hypoxic conditions.
- Metabolic depression during hibernation may lead to a comatose state.
- This raises questions about sensory perception and behavioral responses during winter.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the neural responsiveness of hibernating turtles to sensory stimuli.
- To determine if turtles remain vigilant or comatose during overwintering.
- To understand how turtles detect environmental cues for spring emergence.
Main Methods:
- Evoked potentials were used to measure neural responses in cold, hypoxic turtles.
- Turtles were exposed to light, vibration, and changes in temperature and oxygen levels.
- Behavioral activity was monitored under simulated hibernation conditions.
Main Results:
- Hibernating turtles maintained neural responsiveness to light stimuli, even during prolonged hypoxia.
- Turtles increased activity when exposed to light or elevated temperatures after 14 days.
- No significant activity increase was observed in response to vibration or increased oxygen.
Conclusions:
- Hibernating turtles are not comatose; they remain vigilant during overwintering.
- Turtles can sense and respond to specific environmental cues like light and temperature.
- This vigilance allows for appropriate behavioral adjustments to environmental changes, such as the arrival of spring.
