Predicting body temperature of endotherms during shuttling

Abstract

This paper presents two models that can be used to predict the temporal dynamics of body temperature in endotherms. A first-order model is based on the assumption that body temperature is uniform at all times, while a second-order model is based on the assumption that animals can be divided in a core and a shell, the temperature being uniform within each compartment. According to the second-order model, animals may be able to maintain their internal organs at almost constant temperature during shuttling despite large variations in the temperature of peripheral tissues. [KEYWORDS: Core-shell models; Second-order models; Octodon degus; Patch use]