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Peripheral thermoregulation: foot temperature in two Arctic canines
Science (New York, N.Y.)
|March 3, 1972
Summary
Arctic foxes and gray wolves expertly regulate foot temperature, staying just above freezing in extreme cold. This precise thermoregulation minimizes heat loss, maximizing energy efficiency for survival in icy environments.
Area of Science:
- Physiology
- Zoology
- Thermoregulation
Background:
- Arctic foxes and gray wolves inhabit environments with extreme sub-zero temperatures.
- Maintaining tissue viability in extremities is crucial for survival in cold climates.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the thermoregulatory mechanisms employed by Arctic foxes and gray wolves in their extremities.
- To quantify the precision of foot temperature regulation in these species under extreme cold conditions.
Main Methods:
- Measuring foot pad subcutaneous temperature in live animals exposed to cold environments and laboratory conditions.
- Analyzing heat loss from the foot pad surface.
- Investigating the role of the cutaneous vascular plexus in heat transfer.
Main Results:
- Both species maintained foot pad temperatures just above the freezing point of tissue (approximately -1°C) even when exposed to snow or a -35°C bath.
- Subcutaneous foot pad temperature was stabilized with a precision of +/- 0.7°C.
- Selective blood flow shunting through the cutaneous vascular plexus accounted for over 99% of measured heat loss.
Conclusions:
- Arctic and gray wolves utilize sophisticated proportional thermoregulation to protect their extremities from freezing.
- A highly efficient heat exchange system, located at the foot pad surface, minimizes metabolic energy expenditure for thermoregulation.