Student Number: 0218322F Master of Science School of Physiology / The high morbidity and mortality of wild mammals and livestock during capture and transport is generally ascribed to thermal stress. Consequently, capture operators can benefit from improved methods that may reduce thermal stress. The aim of my study was to develop a practical method of measuring the body temperature of mammals during capture and transport operations. Firstly, I determined whether intermittent temperature recordings, which allow for minuteby- minute monitoring of an animal’s temperature, could accurately reflect continuous measures of an animal’s rectal temperature. Intermittent temperatures were measured via telemetry while continuous and off-line recordings were measured with data loggers. Secondly, I compared rectal and abdominal temperatures to determine if rectal temperature can provide a practical, noninvasive method of estimating core body temperature. Additionally, I measured body temperature and environmental conditions throughout transportation and compared pre- and post-transport levels of faecal cortisol, and blood cortisol, haematocrit and catecholamines. Measuring rectal temperatures seems to be the only feasible, non-invasive technique to obtain temperature during transport operations. However, rectal temperature records required about 30 minutes to stabilise after inserting a thermometric device. After rectal temperature stabilised, generally the difference between abdominal and rectal temperatures varied greatly for individual animals, while the average differences in temperatures between the body sites were not significant for all, except one, species. I have also shown that telemeters and data loggers can be used interchangeably to measure the body temperature of animals. The differences between temperatures measured by the devices were not significant, except for substantial differences shown in two animals. The addition of earphones and a large aerial inside the vehicle improved the telemetry results, by limiting the extraneous noise of the capture and transport environment. These conditions probably caused the anomalous readings in the two animals. General thermal responses to stress are that animals showed a peak in temperature due to capture and a decrease in temperature during transport. Therefore, capture-related stress and the likelihood of animals dying during capture could be minimised by ensuring that the animals are not chased longer than a set cut-off time. Further, globe temperature should be monitored to ensure that animals are not captured in high thermal conditions. In contradiction with the current guidelines regarding the appropriate time of day for capture, I recommend that animals should not be caught at the end of the day, as my results show that this is when their body temperatures are the highest. Body temperatures during transport and differences in faeces cortisol before and after transport seem to indicate that animals adapt to repeated stress events.

O objetivo desta pesquisa foi avaliar o comportamento térmico de diferentes linhagens de frangos de corte submetidas a estresse e conforto durante o ciclo de produção. Para isso, realizou-se um experimento em câmara climática, durante as seis semanas do ciclo de criação, em que os animais foram submetidos a duas condições ambientais: conforto e estresse. Foram adotados quatro tratamentos, sendo assim definidos: tratamento C60 (condição de conforto), com 60 minutos de exposição; tratamento E30, tratamento E60 e tratamento E90 (condição de estresse), com 30, 60 e 90 minutos de exposição, respectivamente. O delineamento experimental adotado foi o de quadrados latinos 4 x 4, sendo caracterizados por quatro lotes de aves, expostas aos quatro tratamentos, nos quatro primeiros dias de cada semana. As aves, das linhagens Avian e Cobb, foram divididas em lotes de 48 aves por semana, totalizando 96 animais, e totalizando 586 aves, de ambos os sexos, durante todo o período experimental. As variáveis climáticas adotadas para as condições de conforto e estresse diferiram ao longo das semanas, uma vez que as necessidades térmicas de frangos de corte diferem com o decorrer do ciclo produtivo. No primeiro capítulo, as variáveis fisiológicas, frequência respiratória e temperatura cloacal foram estudadas, estipulando-se, dessa maneira, faixas para as condições de conforto e estresse. Com base nessas variáveis, estudou-se a tolerância das linhagens ao estresse térmico, e observou-se que a linhagem Cobb é mais tolerante ao estresse térmico. No segundo capítulo, estudou-se a influência de tempo de exposição sobre a temperatura superficial das seguintes regiões corporais: asa, cabeça, pata, dorso e crista. O tempo de exposição não influenciou, em nenhuma das semanas, a temperatura superficial das aves, havendo diferenças significativas apenas entre a condição de conforto e estresse. Baseando-se nessas informações, e nessas regiões corporais, determinaram-se modelos de regressão linear múltipla para cada uma das semanas do ciclo de criação, para ambas as linhagens, sendo denominadas por TSM Nascimento. A escolha dos modelos foi realizada pelo método da máxima verossimilhança, pelo critério de Akaike (AIC) e pelo teste qui-quadrado para verificar o número de regiões corporais incluídas em cada um dos distintos modelos. No terceiro capítulo, efetuou-se o balanço de calor sensível e latente das aves, baseado nos modelos de temperatura superficial TSM Nascimento, na temperatura do núcleo corporal (adotada na pesquisa como a temperatura cloacal) e nas variáveis ambientais coletadas durante a pesquisa, para ambas as linhagens. Observou-se que, em condição de conforto, a partir da terceira semana, as trocas sensíveis correspondem a até 80% do total das trocas de calor. Em estresse térmico, as trocas latentes correspondem a até 84% do total. Verificou-se que as aves são mais susceptíveis ao estresse térmico na terceira semana do ciclo produtivo. / The aim of this research was to evaluate thermal behaviour of different broiler chicken strains submitted to stress and comfort through lifecycle. Thereunto, an experiment was accomplished in climatic chamber, during the six weeks of life of the birds, with the animals submitted to two environmental conditions: comfort and stress. Four treatments were adopted, defined as: treatment C60 (comfort condition), with 60 minutes of exposure; treatment E30, treatment E60 and treatment E90 (stress condition), with 30, 60 and 90 minutes of exposure, respectively. Experimental design adopted was a 4 x 4 latin square, characterized by four lots of birds, exposed to the four treatments, in the first four days of each week. Broiler, from Avian and Cobb strains, were divided in lots of 48 birds per week, totalizing 96 animals, and totalizing 586 animals, both sexes, during all experimental period. Climatic variables adopted to comfort and stress conditions differd through the weeks, once that thermal requirements of broiler chickens differ throughout growing cycle. In the first chapter, physiological variables respiration rate and cloacal temperature were studied, stipulating in this way, bands to comfort and stress conditions. Based on these variables, the tolerance of strains to thermal stress was studied, and was observed that Cobb strain is more tolerant to heat stress. In the second chapter, the influence of exposure time on superficial temperature was studied in the following body regions: wing, head, feet, back and comb. Exposure time did not influence, in none of weeks, superficial temperature of birds, with significative differences only among comfort and stress conditions. Based on these boards, and on these body regions, multiple linear regression models were determined to each week of lifecycle, to both strains, being named as TSM Nascimento. The selection of the models was done by maximum likelihood method, by Akaikes criteria (AIC) and by qui-square test to verify the number of body regions included in each one of the models. In the third chapter, was accomplished sensible and latent heat balance of the birds, based on superficial temperature models TSM Nascimento, core body temperature (adopted in the research as cloacal temperature) and on environmental variables collected during the research, to both strains. It was observed that in comfort condition, from third week of lifecycle and on, sensible exchanges corresponded for up to 80% of the total exchanges. In thermal stress, latent exchanges corresponded for up to 84% of the total. It was verified that broiler chickens are more susceptible to thermal stress in the third week of lifecycle.

Os ratos-de-espinho são abundantes nas florestas úmidas Neotropicais. Trinomys yonenagae (ROCHA, 1995) constitui uma exceção entre as espécies do gênero por habitar o campo de dunas fixas da Caatinga, ser colonial e fossorial. Tanto o ambiente seco, como a socialidade e o hábito fossorial podem alterar o padrão reprodutivo das espécies. Diante do fato desses roedores serem coloniais, por exemplo, espera-se a influência de co-específicos (fêmeas ou machos) no ciclo estral. Estudos-piloto na natureza e em cativeiro mostraram que a fase de diestro pode ocorrer com a vagina aberta, um fato que merece ser mais investigado, já que se considera que a abertura vaginal ocorra somente durante a transição da fase proestro-estro. O objetivo deste trabalho é, portanto, o de estudar aspectos dos ritmos reprodutivos infradianos (ciclo estral e gestação) e circadiano (temperatura corporal) em rabos-de-facho, mantidos em cativeiro, alojados individualmente, e pareados com fêmeas e com machos. Nesses grupos são caracterizados os esfregaços e o estado de abertura da vagina, buscando conhecer aspectos da fisiologia reprodutiva, tais como, a idade de maturidade sexual (cap. 1), a relação entre a fase do ciclo estral e o estado vaginal (cap. 2), e as características da citologia esfoliativa durante a gravidez (cap. 3). Os dados da citologia são correlacionados com o padrão comportamental durante o acasalamento, caracterizando a existência de estro pós-parto (cap. 3). Analisa-se ainda a distribuição de todos os nascimentos ocorridos ao longo de dez anos. O ritmo de temperatura corporal das fêmeas é aferido a partir de acompanhamento da temperatura retal com uso de termômetro digital durante 72h (cap. 4). Embora de maneira geral Trinomys yonenagae siga os padrões reprodutivos de outros membros da família Echimyidae, tais como, gestação longa (90d), ninhadas pequenas (média de 2 filhotes) e maturidade sexual tardia (ao redor dos 90d) é possível identificar a influência de co-específicos (dominância entre fêmeas) no ciclo estral. Este ciclo parece ser espontâneo, do tipo poliéstrico, com fases muito curtas de proestro e estro (< 24h). A condição vaginal não é um bom indicativo de atividade reprodutiva (ocorre abertura no diestro e na gravidez); a presença do macho não garante fecundação; também se confirma a ocorrência de estro pós-parto, igualmente breve. O comportamento de acasalamento é elaborado, o que é esperado de espécies com estro curto ou de vida social e subterrânea. A distribuição dos nascimentos não é sazonal, confirmando dados de campo. Quanto ao ritmo de temperatura corporal, ele é circadiano com picos noturnos e com relação positiva de fase com o ritmo de atividade/repouso, o que segue o padrão geral de roedores / Spiny rats are among the most numerous group of mammals in Neotropical rainforests. Trinomys yonenagae (ROCHA, 1995) is an exception because it is colonial, fossorial and inhabits the semiarid Caatinga. The dry environment and the underground and colonial life styles are known to affect reproductive patterns. So it is expected, for example, that social life may influence the estrous cycle especially through the presence of conspecific (females and males). It is considered that vaginal opening occurs only during the estrus. Previous field studies or in captivity have shown the unexpected occurrence of vaginal opening and diestrus, a fact that deserves further investigation. The aim of this work is verify the reproductive infradian rhythms (estrous cycle and pregnancy) and the circadian body temperature rhythm, in T. yonenagae kept individually or in pairs (male-female and female-female) in captivity. In these groups vaginal smears and the presence of the vaginal membrane is studied aiming to characterize aspects of its reproductive life, such as, the age of sexual maturity (chapter 1), the relationship between the vaginal opening and the phase of the estrous cycle (chapter 2), and the smear cytology during pregnancy (chapter 3). The cytological data are correlated with the mating behavioral, characterizing the post-partum estrus (chapter 3). All birth that occurrence during 10 years are analyzed. The body temperature rhythm is measured during 72h by rectal temperature with a digital thermometer (chapter 4). Although Trinomys yonenagae follows the reproductive patterns of other members of Echimyidae, such as prolonged gestation( 90d), small sized litter (mean of 2) and delayed sexual maturity (around 90d), it is possible to identify the influence of conspecifics (female dominance) upon the estrous cycle. This cycle seems to be spontaneous, poliestric, having very short proestrus and estrus phases (< 24h). The vaginal condition is not a good indicative of the reproductive status (vaginal opening may occur during the diestrus phase and the pregnancy); the presence of males does not guarantee pregnancy. We also confirm the occurrence of post-partum estrus, which is also short-lived. The mating behavior is complex, which is expected in species were the duration of estrus is short, or in species of social and subterranean life. The birth distribution is non seasonal, which is in agreement with field data. The body temperature rhythmicity is circadian with peaks at night; and shows a positive phase relationship with the rest/activity rhythm, both cycles follow the pattern known for other nocturnal rodents

As tecnologias, fortemente representadas pelos serious games na atualidade, têm ressignificado o processo de ensino-aprendizagem em saúde e enfermagem, contribuindo para o ensino participativo e mediando a aprendizagem não só de estudantes, mas também de profissionais e pacientes. Este estudo consistiu em pesquisa metodológica quanto ao desenvolvimento, baseado na técnica do design participativo, de um jogo educativo denominado e-Baby: avaliação clínica da termorregulação no recém-nascido pré-termo, bem como em um quase-experimento do tipo pré e pós-teste, ao avaliar o nível de aprendizado obtido pelos participantes antes e após uma intervenção, a qual consistiu em um curso semipresencial de 30 horas abordando o tema \'termorregulação do recém-nascido prematuro\' em associação com o jogo desenvolvido, que foi disponibilizado online durante todo o decorrer da atividade de educação permanente. Ao se compararem as médias do pós-teste e as do pré-teste (teste não paramétrico de Wilcoxon), verificou-se aprendizagem significativa pelos participantes (p = 0,0001). O jogo e-Baby voltado à avaliação clínica da termorregulação do recém-nascido pré-termo mostrou-se eficaz como instrumento de intervenção no processo de ensino-aprendizagem, despertando interesse e motivação em seus usuários / Information technology, today remarkably exemplified in serious games, has transformed the teaching-learning process in health and nursing, helping promote participative education and mediating the learning of students, professionals and patients. This study comprised a methodological investigation on the development, based on participative design, of the serious game e-Baby: Clinical Evaluation of Thermoregulation in the Preterm Neonate. A quasi-experimental pre- and post-test study assessed the level of learning available before and achieved after an intervention consisting of a combined on-site/on-line 30-hour refresher course on the topic of thermoregulation in preterm neonates, during which the game was made available online. Comparison between mean scores of post- and pre-assessments (Wilcoxon\'s non-parametric test) revealed significant learning gains (p = 0.0001). The e-Baby serious game for clinically assessing thermoregulation of preterm neonates proved effective as an intervention instrument in the teaching-learning process, sparking the interest and motivation of its users

O objetivo desta pesquisa foi avaliar o comportamento térmico de diferentes linhagens de frangos de corte submetidas a estresse e conforto durante o ciclo de produção. Para isso, realizou-se um experimento em câmara climática, durante as seis semanas do ciclo de criação, em que os animais foram submetidos a duas condições ambientais: conforto e estresse. Foram adotados quatro tratamentos, sendo assim definidos: tratamento C60 (condição de conforto), com 60 minutos de exposição; tratamento E30, tratamento E60 e tratamento E90 (condição de estresse), com 30, 60 e 90 minutos de exposição, respectivamente. O delineamento experimental adotado foi o de quadrados latinos 4 x 4, sendo caracterizados por quatro lotes de aves, expostas aos quatro tratamentos, nos quatro primeiros dias de cada semana. As aves, das linhagens Avian e Cobb, foram divididas em lotes de 48 aves por semana, totalizando 96 animais, e totalizando 586 aves, de ambos os sexos, durante todo o período experimental. As variáveis climáticas adotadas para as condições de conforto e estresse diferiram ao longo das semanas, uma vez que as necessidades térmicas de frangos de corte diferem com o decorrer do ciclo produtivo. No primeiro capítulo, as variáveis fisiológicas, frequência respiratória e temperatura cloacal foram estudadas, estipulando-se, dessa maneira, faixas para as condições de conforto e estresse. Com base nessas variáveis, estudou-se a tolerância das linhagens ao estresse térmico, e observou-se que a linhagem Cobb é mais tolerante ao estresse térmico. No segundo capítulo, estudou-se a influência de tempo de exposição sobre a temperatura superficial das seguintes regiões corporais: asa, cabeça, pata, dorso e crista. O tempo de exposição não influenciou, em nenhuma das semanas, a temperatura superficial das aves, havendo diferenças significativas apenas entre a condição de conforto e estresse. Baseando-se nessas informações, e nessas regiões corporais, determinaram-se modelos de regressão linear múltipla para cada uma das semanas do ciclo de criação, para ambas as linhagens, sendo denominadas por TSM Nascimento. A escolha dos modelos foi realizada pelo método da máxima verossimilhança, pelo critério de Akaike (AIC) e pelo teste qui-quadrado para verificar o número de regiões corporais incluídas em cada um dos distintos modelos. No terceiro capítulo, efetuou-se o balanço de calor sensível e latente das aves, baseado nos modelos de temperatura superficial TSM Nascimento, na temperatura do núcleo corporal (adotada na pesquisa como a temperatura cloacal) e nas variáveis ambientais coletadas durante a pesquisa, para ambas as linhagens. Observou-se que, em condição de conforto, a partir da terceira semana, as trocas sensíveis correspondem a até 80% do total das trocas de calor. Em estresse térmico, as trocas latentes correspondem a até 84% do total. Verificou-se que as aves são mais susceptíveis ao estresse térmico na terceira semana do ciclo produtivo. / The aim of this research was to evaluate thermal behaviour of different broiler chicken strains submitted to stress and comfort through lifecycle. Thereunto, an experiment was accomplished in climatic chamber, during the six weeks of life of the birds, with the animals submitted to two environmental conditions: comfort and stress. Four treatments were adopted, defined as: treatment C60 (comfort condition), with 60 minutes of exposure; treatment E30, treatment E60 and treatment E90 (stress condition), with 30, 60 and 90 minutes of exposure, respectively. Experimental design adopted was a 4 x 4 latin square, characterized by four lots of birds, exposed to the four treatments, in the first four days of each week. Broiler, from Avian and Cobb strains, were divided in lots of 48 birds per week, totalizing 96 animals, and totalizing 586 animals, both sexes, during all experimental period. Climatic variables adopted to comfort and stress conditions differd through the weeks, once that thermal requirements of broiler chickens differ throughout growing cycle. In the first chapter, physiological variables respiration rate and cloacal temperature were studied, stipulating in this way, bands to comfort and stress conditions. Based on these variables, the tolerance of strains to thermal stress was studied, and was observed that Cobb strain is more tolerant to heat stress. In the second chapter, the influence of exposure time on superficial temperature was studied in the following body regions: wing, head, feet, back and comb. Exposure time did not influence, in none of weeks, superficial temperature of birds, with significative differences only among comfort and stress conditions. Based on these boards, and on these body regions, multiple linear regression models were determined to each week of lifecycle, to both strains, being named as TSM Nascimento. The selection of the models was done by maximum likelihood method, by Akaikes criteria (AIC) and by qui-square test to verify the number of body regions included in each one of the models. In the third chapter, was accomplished sensible and latent heat balance of the birds, based on superficial temperature models TSM Nascimento, core body temperature (adopted in the research as cloacal temperature) and on environmental variables collected during the research, to both strains. It was observed that in comfort condition, from third week of lifecycle and on, sensible exchanges corresponded for up to 80% of the total exchanges. In thermal stress, latent exchanges corresponded for up to 84% of the total. It was verified that broiler chickens are more susceptible to thermal stress in the third week of lifecycle.

Orientador: Tânia Márcia Costa / Resumo: Os caranguejos chama-maré fazem parte de uma complexa rede de interações comportamentais. Os machos utilizam de múltiplos sinais para corte e atração de fêmeas ou para interações agonísticas com outros machos. Entre estes, estão a construção de estruturas sedimentares e mudanças na coloração corporal. Embora estudos tenham mostrado as funções comportamentais destes sinais, pouco se sabe de seus efeitos em resposta aos fatores ambientais, como por exemplo, a temperatura. Nós investigamos se a coloração, ou as estruturas sedimentares, as “cúpulas”, construídas pelos machos de Leptuca letptodactyla podem auxiliar na termorregulação. Em campo, a contagem de cúpulas, a temperatura das camadas internas das tocas, a temperatura corporal e o comportamento dos machos construtores e não construtores de cúpulas foram avaliados, assim como a taxa de aquecimento dos machos de diferentes padrões de cor sob a radiação incidente. Através da análise digital de imagens, diferentes métricas de cor foram utilizadas para quantificar como a coloração dos caranguejos altera de acordo com a temperatura corporal, ou entre construtores e não construtores de cúpulas. As cúpulas foram diretamente relacionadas com o aumento da temperatura do solo. As tocas com cúpulas apresentaram temperaturas mais amenas nas camadas superficiais (até 20 mm) do que as tocas sem cúpulas. Em relação a coloração, machos construtores tiveram menos tons de verde e maior brilho (%) em suas carapaças, enquanto apresentaram quel... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Mestre

Objectives: To determine the physiological strain on industrial workers under thermal stress on extended shifts. To continuously measure deep body core temperatures, heart rates, fluid intake, changes in hydration state and physical fatigue in order to establish acceptable levels of physiological strain. To develop a rational heat stress index compatible with these limits. To design working-in-heat protocols for a self-paced workforce. Methods: A series of studies was conducted over 77 shifts on a group of approximately 50 male volunteers working in thermally stressful environments. Continuously- recorded deep body core temperatures, heart rates, fluid consumption, urinary specific gravity and physical fatigue were measured and recorded. A new field protocol was developed to assess physical fatigue over the working shift. An original methodology was developed to allow any heat stress index to be assessed on a comparative basis with any other index. A review of the commonly used occupational heat stress indices was conducted. A new rational heat stress index was developed, based on existing biophysical relationships and recommended physiological strain limits of deep body core temperature and sweat rate. New protocols designed for self-paced work incorporating the significant risk factors for heat illness were developed and implemented in a workforce of approximately 2000 workers exposed to heat stress. The previous protocols used a shortened shift as the primary intervention to protect worker health. The subsequent protocols removed the shortened shift and replaced this with a range of other interventions. Deep body core temperature, heart rate, fluid consumption, hydration state and fatigue were measured before and after the changes in protocols. / Results: Comparisons of heat stress indices confirmed the wide divergence in guidance provided by many of the commonly-used indices in terms of acceptable working environments. It also highlighted a number of serious shortcomings in the most widely-used indices, especially WBGT and ISO7933. A new, rational heat stress index called Thermal Work Limit (TWL) was developed. This included development of a computer model incorporating key thermal physiological parameters (deep body core temperature, mean skin temperature, sweat rate, skin wettedness). There was no increase in heat stress (as indicated by average workplace environmental conditions), deep body core temperature, mean heart rate, or changes in hydration status after the changes in protocols. Average environmental conditions were severe (WBGT 30.9° C, sd 2.0° C, range 25.7-35.2° C). Environmental conditions in the study were much hotter than those considered acceptable under standards such as the ACGIH. The results showed that miners regularly exceeded those limits allowable under most current indices in terms of maximum deep body core temperature (avg 38.3° C, std dev 0.4° C), maximum temperature rise (1.4° C, 0.4° C) and maximum heat storage (431 kJ, 163 kJ), without reporting any symptoms of heat illness. A significant component of the observed elevated core temperatures was due to the normal circadian rhythm, which was measured at 0.9° C (std dev 0.2° C). Evidence was found that workers "self-pace" when under thermal stress. Fluid intake averaged 0.8 l/h during exposure (sd 0.3 l/h, range 0.3-1.5 1/h). Average urinary specific gravity at start-, mid- and end of shift was 1.0251, 1.0248 and 1.0254 respectively; the differences between start and mid-shift, mid and end-shift, and start and end-shift were not significant. / However, a majority of workers were coming to work in a moderately hypohydrated state (urinary specific gravity avg 1.024, std dev 0.0059). Involuntary dehydration was not found to occur in the study group. This is in contrast to several other studies and some of the leading heat stress standards, which are based on the premise that workers are unable to maintain their hydration status when working in the heat, even when their fluid consumption is equal to their sweat rate. Continuous heart rates measured over a shift (avg 103 bpm, 14% of shifts exceeding avg 110 bpm, 5% exceeding avg 120 bpm) were in excess of those allowable under most current indices On average, workers experienced a peak 10- minute heart rate of 140 bpm and a peak 30-minute heart rate of 130 bpm during their shifts. There was a significant increase in fatigue in the first half of the working shift (P=0.001), with workers on average showing a significant recovery in the second half of their shift (p=0.04). Conclusions: Current heat stress indices provide little common agreement as to acceptable levels of thermal strain or stress for workers, at equivalent levels of environmental stress. IS07933 is seriously flawed and the ACGIH WBGT guidelines are too conservative for acclimatised workers and are unlikely to become widely adopted by industries with well-acclimatised workers. Many of the existing indices show internal inconsistencies. / Most of the physiological heat strain limits used in existing rational heat stress indices (in terms of deep body core temperature and heart rate) are conservative for self-paced, acclimatise d, non-dehydrating male workers. Involuntary dehydration is not unavoidable when acclimatised workers are exposed to thermal stress. Heat stress standards should not limit heat exposure durations for self- paced workers who have access to water on the basis of an unavoidable body water loss. Physical fatigue does occur in workers under heat stress on extended shifts; however, most workers show a significant increase in fatigue in the first half of their shift; whereas data indicates self-paced workers undergo significant recovery in terms of fatigue in the second half of the shift. As the heat exposures in this study cover a wide range of temperatures, humidity levels, wind speeds, body morphology and VO2max, these conclusions are applicable to most thermally stressful settings involving well-informed, well-acclimatised and self-paced male workers. The major category of work type not covered by this study is that of workers in fully-encapsulated (vapour-barrier) protective clothing. In addition, this study examined acute effects of heat stress and strain, not effects that might only be manifest with chronic exposure to heat.

<p>The principle objective of this investigation was to develop an understanding of the physiological response and ecological aspects of winter torpor of small carnivores, specifically striped skunks (<i>Mephitis mephitis</i>) in the northern environment. An experiment was undertaken to investigate the physiological response of skunks to solitary and communal over-winter strategies. Solitary skunks were able to undergo daily torpor to conserve energy to survive the winter, whereas communal skunks were able to use social huddling to reduce energy expenditure and rarely entered torpor. Due to seasonal changes in life requirements, den selection criteria change throughout the year. I examined the landscape metrics and habitat characteristics surrounding dens to evaluate the hierarchical selection and use of dens during winter (i.e., for torpor) and summer (i.e., for parturition). Den structures commonly used for winter dens were buildings, whereas den structures used for maternity dens were rockpiles and underground burrows. Habitat surrounding den sites influenced den use; animals chose den sites closer to roads, water sources, habitat edges, and crop fields. Seasonal movements of skunks from winter dens to the following summer home ranges were examined with respect to winter grouping (i.e., solitary or communal) and winter den structure (i.e., underground burrow or building) to investigate factors that influence spatial distribution of skunks. Male and female skunks moved similar distances (~1.5 km) from winter dens to the center of home ranges established in summer, irrespective of winter grouping status and winter den structure use. Due to limited movement in spring, skunks from communal winter dens had higher spatial overlap of summer home ranges than did skunks from solitary dens, producing spatial aggregation of skunk activities surrounding winter communal den sites. Consequently, winter communal dens represent localized hotspots in the landscape. The effects of extrinsic variables (i.e., environment and diseases) and intrinsic characteristics (i.e., age, gender, and body condition) on cumulative winter survival rate were examined. Winter survival rates were driven mostly by winter condition (i.e., low ambient temperature and snow depth), rabies, and body condition. These results suggest that winter severity probably poses a limit on the northern distribution of the species.</p>

<p>The principle objective of this investigation was to develop an understanding of the physiological response and ecological aspects of winter torpor of small carnivores, specifically striped skunks (<i>Mephitis mephitis</i>) in the northern environment. An experiment was undertaken to investigate the physiological response of skunks to solitary and communal over-winter strategies. Solitary skunks were able to undergo daily torpor to conserve energy to survive the winter, whereas communal skunks were able to use social huddling to reduce energy expenditure and rarely entered torpor. Due to seasonal changes in life requirements, den selection criteria change throughout the year. I examined the landscape metrics and habitat characteristics surrounding dens to evaluate the hierarchical selection and use of dens during winter (i.e., for torpor) and summer (i.e., for parturition). Den structures commonly used for winter dens were buildings, whereas den structures used for maternity dens were rockpiles and underground burrows. Habitat surrounding den sites influenced den use; animals chose den sites closer to roads, water sources, habitat edges, and crop fields. Seasonal movements of skunks from winter dens to the following summer home ranges were examined with respect to winter grouping (i.e., solitary or communal) and winter den structure (i.e., underground burrow or building) to investigate factors that influence spatial distribution of skunks. Male and female skunks moved similar distances (~1.5 km) from winter dens to the center of home ranges established in summer, irrespective of winter grouping status and winter den structure use. Due to limited movement in spring, skunks from communal winter dens had higher spatial overlap of summer home ranges than did skunks from solitary dens, producing spatial aggregation of skunk activities surrounding winter communal den sites. Consequently, winter communal dens represent localized hotspots in the landscape. The effects of extrinsic variables (i.e., environment and diseases) and intrinsic characteristics (i.e., age, gender, and body condition) on cumulative winter survival rate were examined. Winter survival rates were driven mostly by winter condition (i.e., low ambient temperature and snow depth), rabies, and body condition. These results suggest that winter severity probably poses a limit on the northern distribution of the species.</p>

Chickens, being open thermodynamic systems, maintain a constant exchange of energy and matter with their surrounding environment. In order to avoid reaching thermodynamic equilibrium with the environment the bird makes use of homeostatic mechanisms. These ensure the reduction of the entropy of the system to values that guarantee its integrality. The thermoregulatory response is a major component of the homeostatic machinery of living systems. This induces modifications of physiological parameters of the bird, taking the system “bird” to a new steady state. The achievement of this new state is possible only if the thermoregulatory mechanisms of the birds are able to counteract the environmental demand/burden. A successful thermoregulatory response depends not only on the achievement of that steady state, but also on the compatibility of the value of those parameters with life (especially regarding the value achieved by body temperature) as well as on the time of exposure to the environmental perturbation. Based on those premises, this thesis presents a mechanistic analysis of the thermal interaction between a broiler and its surroundings. The first section of the document introduces the reader to the general concepts of thermodynamics of living systems and physics of heat exchange. The second use mechanistic simulation techniques to represent the environment, the thermal and thermoregulatory properties of a broiler chicken and the interaction between bird and environment. Finally, the third section describes a conceptual simulation model able to predict, over a given period of time, the response of a bird to environmental conditions above those associated with least thermoregulatory effort. Various simulation exercises are reported, the objectives being to study the behaviour of certain variables and to question the validity of current theories of thermoregulation in environmental physiology. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2010.