Seasonal changes and wind dependence of thermal conductance in dorsal fur from two small mammal species ( Peromyscus leucopus and Microtus pennsylvanicus)

Abstract

(1) We measured the thermal conductance of dorsal pelage from meadow voles ( Microtus pennsylvanicus) and white-footed mice ( Peromyscus leucopus) during summer and winter. (2) Thermal conductance was lower in the winter pelage of both species, but the seasonal change was greater in meadow voles. (3) The form of wind speed dependence was determined by fitting a nonlinear curve of the form a+ bu c to data recorded at five wind speeds. The most appropriate exponent c was between 0.908 and 0.987, depending on species and season. These values are common and suggest that thermal and dynamic forces are important.