Introdução: O exercício é conhecido como uma das ferramentas mais poderosas para prevenir e controlar a obesidade. No entanto, as razões pelas quais indivíduos obesos parecem ser menos dispostos do que aqueles com peso normal para participar e aderir a programas de exercícios são ainda desconhecidas. Uma das hipóteses é que as altas taxas de abandono tipicamente encontradas entre os adolescentes obesos pode ser devido ao tipo de exercício prescrito, e/ou uma capacidade termorregulatória comprometida. A interação entre exercício e excesso de peso pode alterar algumas variáveis, tais como, temperatura corporal, percepção de esforço, conforto térmico e irritabilidade, especialmente se os programas de exercícios são realizados em ambientes com altas temperaturas. Objetivo: Este estudo investigou as respostas fisiológicas e perceptivas em adolescentes obesas em sessões de exercícios concorrente (EC) e de exercícios aeróbico (EA), em duas condições ambientais: calor (C) e termoneutro (Tn). Métodos: Doze meninas púberes obesas (12,7±0,6 anos, 49,9± 3,0% de gordura) fisicamente ativas e aclimatizadas ao calor foram designadas para participar de quatro sessões de testes (EA e EC onde no EA foi de 40 minutos e consistia de cicloergômetro (60-70% do VO2pico) em duas condições ambientais: Aeróbico termoneutro (ATn) em que a temperatura foi mantida a 22-25 °C, humidade relativa entre 55-60 %; Aeróbico Calor (AC) em que a temperatura foi mantida entre 35-37 ºC, e uma humidade relativa entre 40-45%. As sessões EC foram organizados em quatro períodos (10 minutos cada), alternando cilcoergômetro (60-70% VO2pico) e duas séries de nove exercícios de força (12-15 repetições a 60-70% de 1-RM). As sessões de EC também foram testadas sob as mesmas condições acima mencionadas (concorrente termoneutra - CTn e concorrente calor - CC). As participantes foram autorizadas a beber cerca de 279ml (± 42.7ml) de água durante as sessões de exercício. As seguintes variáveis foram avaliadas: temperatura retal (Tre), frequência cardíaca (FC), taxa percepção de esforço (TPE), escala de percepção de esforço para crianças (EPEC), sensação térmica, conforto térmico, irritabilidade, cor e densidade da urinária. ANOVA de um e dois caminhos; ANOVA para medidas repetidas e os testes de Friedman e Wilcoxon (p <0,05) foram realizados com os diferentes tipos de exercícios (EA e EC), e as condições de temperatura (Tn e C) como fatores. Resultados: A análise confirmou semelhantes (p> 0,05) os níveis de hidratação, Tre e UR, no início de cada sessão de exercícios confirmando a linha de base. Os resultados mostraram diferenças entre pré e pós-exercício na Tre (AC: 37,1± 0,2 para 37,7±0,2ºC, e CC: 37,1±0,2 para 37,5±0,2°C) (p=0,001). Não foram encontradas diferenças durante as sessões CTn (p=0,967). Durante as sessões ATn, a Tre diferiu (p = 0,016), apenas no vigésimo minuto (37,1±0,2 para 37,4 ± 0,3). Além disso, não houve diferença (p=1,000) entre as sessões ATn e CTn. No entanto, houve diferença (p = 0,016) comparando a AC e CC, no minuto 35 (AC= 37,6 ± 0,2; CC= 37,4 ± 0,2 °C), e no minuto 40 (AC = 37,7 ± 0,2 e CC= 37,5 ±0,2 °C). O conforto térmico e sensação térmica foram maiores durante as sessões de calor e no exercício aeróbio (p <0,05). Não houve diferença na EPEC e irritabilidade. Conclusão: Em geral, estes resultados concluem que as adolescentes obesas respondem melhor em termos fisiológicos e perceptivos durante o EC em comparação com as sessões de EA. Além disso, os resultados demonstraram que a percepção de esforço, sensação térmica, e conforto térmico conduziu a um aumento significativo do prazer relatado no EA independente da condição térmica. Portanto, o EC pode aumentar o prazer e motivação intrínseca para a atividade física, aumentando a adesão desta população específica. / Introduction: Exercise is well known as one of the most powerful tools to prevent and control obesity. However, the reasons why overweight individuals seem even less willing than normal-weight ones to participate in, and adhere to exercise programs remain largely unknown. One of the hypotheses is that the high rates of dropouts typically found among overweight teenagers might be due to the type of exercise prescribed, and/or compromised thermoregulatory ability. The interaction between exercise and excess body weight would alter some unique variables such as, body temperature, perceived exertion, thermal comfort, and irritability, especially if exercises programs are performed in environments with high temperatures. Aim: This study investigated physiological and perceptual responses in teenager women during concurrent (CE) and aerobic exercise (AE) sessions, under two distinct thermic environmental conditions: artificially heated (Ht) and thermoneutral (Tn). Methods: Twelve obese pubescent girls (12.7 ± 0.6 years, 49.9 ± 3.0% fat) physically active and heat-acclimatized were randomly assigned to participate in four differents sessions, the AE sessions last 40-minutes each and consisted of cycling (60-70% of VO2peak) under two environmental conditions: Aerobic Thermoneutral (ATn) in which the temperature was kept to 22-25°C, and relative humidity between 55-60%; and Aerobic Heated (AHt) in which the temperature was kept between 35-37ºC, and relative humidity between 40-45%. The CE sessions were organized into four periods (10 minutes each) alternating cycling (60-70% VO2peak) and two sets of nine strength exercises [12-15 repetitions at 60-70% of 1-RM]. The CE sessions were also tested under the same above-mentioned environmental conditions (concurrent thermoneutral - CTn and concurrent heated - CHt). Participants were allowed to drink about 279ml (± 42.7ml) of water during the exercise sessions. The following variables were assessed: rectal temperature (Tre), heart rate (HR), rate of perceived exertion (RPE), perceived exertion scale for children (PESC), thermal sensation, thermal comfort, irritability, urine color, and urine specific gravity. One, and two way ANOVAs, repeated measures ANOVA, and Friedman and Wilcoxon tests (p <0.05) were performed using the different types of exercises (AE and CE), and temperature conditions (Tn and Ht) as factors. Results: The analysis confirmed similar (p> 0.05) hydration levels, Tre, and HR at the beginning of each exercise session confirming the baseline. The results showed differences between pre- and post-exercise Tre assessments (AHt: 37.1 ± 0.2 - 37.7 ± 0.2 ºC; and CHt: 37.1 ± 0.2 - 37.5 ± 0.2 °C) (p = 0.001). No differences were found during the CTn sessions (p = 0.967). During the ATn sessions, the Tre differed (p = 0.016) only during the first 20 minutes (37.1 ± 0.2 - 37.4 ± 0.3). Furthermore, no difference (p = 1.000) was found between the ATn and CTn sessions. However, the comparison between AHt and CHt differed (p = 0.016) at the 35 (AHt = 37.6 ± 0.2; and CHt = 37.4 ± 0.2 °C), and 40 minutes (AHt = 37.7 ± 0.2 and CHt = 37.5 ± 0.2 °C). The thermal comfort and thermal sensation were higher during the heated and aerobic sessions (p <0.05). No differences in the PESC, and irritability were found. Conclusion: Overall these findings conclude that overweight teenagers respond physiologically better during CE as compared to AE sessions. In addition, the results demonstrated that perceived exertion, thermal sensation, and thermal comfort led to a significant increase in reported pleasure on AE regardless of environmental condition. Over time, the CE could increase the enjoyment of and intrinsic motivation for physical activity, increasing adherence of this particular population.

O objetivo do estudo foi a avaliação dos mecanismos termorreguladores, baseada numa abordagem temporal em função de diferentes armazenamentos de calor, proporcionados por diferentes tipos de ambientes térmicos (com e sem radiação solar). Foram utilizadas 12 búfalas da raça Mediterrânea que foram submetidas a quatro experimentos durante o verão de 2010 a 2012 delineados para o comprimento dos objetivos específicos. Nos vários experimentos os parâmetros meteorológicos registrados foram: temperatura de bulbo seco, temperatura de bulbo úmido, umidade relativa do ar, velocidade do vento e temperatura de globo negro. Os parâmetros fisiológicos avaliados foram: temperatura retal, temperatura da base da cauda, temperatura da epiderme, temperatura de superfície do pelame, frequência respiratória e taxa de sudação. As análises estatísticas foram realizadas com auxílio do programa Statistical Analysis System, versão 9.1.3 (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC, USA), utilizando-se os procedimentos PROC MIXED. No experimento 1 que visou verificar as reações termorreguladoras ao ambiente aquecido em unidade biometeorológica, o aumento da temperatura do ar em ambiente controlado influenciou todas as variáveis fisiológicas ao longo do dia (P&lt;0,01). O incremento na taxa de sudação durante o período de estresse térmico determinou a depleção na concentração plasmática de potássio (P=0,0051). No experimento 2que avaliou as reações termorreguladoras na presença de radiação solar direta averiguamos que houve influência da exposição ao sol sobre todas as variáveis fisiológicas ao longo do dia (P&lt;0,01). O gradiente térmico favorável no período noturno atenuou os efeitos do estresse térmico não constatando o efeito da exposição a radiação solar direta sobre os constituintes sanguíneos. No experimento 3que objetivou quantificar a velocidade de aquisição de calor ao sol comparando-a posteriormente com a velocidade de dissipação do calor à sombra, constatamos que a exposição por uma hora ao sol incrementou a frequência respiratória em 189,24 % e a temperatura retal em 1,46 %, após o retorno a sombra, por uma hora, verificamos uma redução de 191,75 % e 0,57 %, respectivamente. No experimento 4avaliamos a dinâmica da termólise evaporativa e o balanço térmico de radiação e convecção em condições de radiação solar direta. À medida que reduz a temperatura radiante média, os animais passam a perder o calor armazenado por radiação, reduzem as perdas por polipnéia térmica ao passo que as perdas por sudação permanecem altas. / The aim of the study was to evaluate the thermoregulatory mechanisms, based on a temporal approach, in relation to different heat storages provided by different types of thermal environments (with and without solar radiation). Twelve Mediterranean buffalo heifers were submitted to four experiments during the summer of 2010 to 2012 outlined to achieve specific objectives. Environmental parameters dry bulb temperature; wet bulb temperature; relative humidity; winds speed and black globe temperature were measured. Physiological parameters rectal temperature; base of tail temperature; skin temperature; hair coat surface temperature; respiratory rate and sweating rate were measured. The statistical analysis were done with the assistance of the Statistical Analysis System, version9.1.3(SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC, USA), using procedures UNIVARIATE,CORR, GLM and MIXED. The first experiment aimed to verify the thermoregulatory reactions of the warm environment in the climatic chamber. Increasing the air temperature in a controlled environment influenced all physiological variables throughout the day (P&lt;0,01). The increase in the sweating rate during heat stress led to the depletion of plasma potassium (P=0,0051). In experiment 2, which assessed the thermoregulatory reactions in the presence of direct solar radiation, it was observed the influence of sun exposure on all physiological variables throughout the day (P&lt;0.01). The favorable thermal gradient at night attenuated the effects of heat stress without identifying the effect of direct sun exposure on blood constituents. In experiment 3, that aimed to measure the heat acquisition rate under the sun subsequently comparing it with the speed of heat dissipation under the shade, it was observed that one hour exposure to the sun increased respiratory rate at 189,24 % and rectal temperature at 1,46 %. After returning the shade for one hour, it was found reductions of 191,75 % and 0,57 %, respectively. The Experiment 4 evaluated the dynamics of evaporative thermolysis and thermal balance of radiation and convection under conditions of direct solar radiation. Reducing the mean radiant temperature, the animals started to lose the stored heat by radiation, reduced losses by thermal polipneia while the losses by sweating remain high.

A sepse é caracterizada por uma produção excessiva de mediadores inflamatórios, acompanhada de taquicardia e hipotensão. Experimentalmente, a administração de endotoxina (Lipopolissacarídeo, LPS) em doses relativamente elevadas induz choque endotoxêmico, sendo um bom modelo de estudo da sepse. Diversos grupos têm demonstrado ações antiinflamatórias e antitumorais do citral, um composto do óleo essencial de Cymbopogon citratus. Nosso laboratório demonstrou ação antipirética do citral em modelo de febre induzida por LPS, acompanhada de redução nos níveis de citocinas plasmáticas e de prostaglandina E2 (PGE2) no plasma e área pré óptica do hipotálamo (POA), importante região termorregulatória. A hipótese testada neste trabalho foi a de que o citral atenua a hipotensão provocada pela endotoxina, além de amenizar as alterações termoregulatórias. Todos os procedimentos foram executados de acordo com os princípios éticos de experimentação animal, aprovados pelo comitê de ética local (CEUA 2015.1 1214 58-2). Foi realizado o implante de cânulas na artéria e veia femoral para registro da pressão arterial e administração de LPS (1,5 mg/kg) ou salina apirogênica 0,9% além do implante de datalogger na cavidade peritoneal de ratos Wistar, para registro da temperatura corporal. No dia do registro, 30 minutos antes da administração de LPS ou salina, os animais receberam citral (100 mg/kg) ou tween 80 a 1% (veículo) por via oral. Os parâmetros cardiovasculares e temperatura corporal foram registrados por 300 minutos após os respectivos tratamentos. Os valores de pressão arterial média (PAM) e frequência cardíaca (FC) foram coletados a cada 10 minutos após o tratamento e a temperatura corporal foi registrada pelo datalogger em intervalos de 5 minutos. Em outro protocolo foi realizado apenas o implante de cânula na veia femoral dos animais de todos os grupos para administração de LPS ou salina, coleta de sangue para dosagem de interleucina 6, PGE2, nitrito e nitrato e corticosterona e coleta do encéfalo para dosagem de PGE2 e PGD2. As diferenças estatísticas entre os grupos foram analisadas pelo teste ANOVA two-way seguido por pós teste de Newman-Keuls, com o nível de significância adotado de p < 0,05. A administração de LPS provocou queda na PAM eaumento na FC. Tais respostas não foram afetadas pela administração prévia de citral. O LPS também induziu febre e aumento nas concentrações plasmáticas de interleucina - 6 (IL-6), óxido nítrico (NO), PGE2 e corticosterona. Esses parâmetros não foram alterados pela pré- administração de Citral. No entanto, o citral provocou redução na produção de PGD2 naPOA, sem alterar a de PGE2 nesta região. Podemos concluir que o citral não previne as alterações nos parâmetros cardiovasculares no modelo de endotoxemia em ratos, porém reduz a produção de um mediador termorregulatório e inflamatório do sistema nervoso central (a PGD2), sem alterar a produção de outros mediadores inflamatórios a nível periférico (no plasma). Portanto, em um modelo mais agressivo de inflamação sistênica o citral não se mostrou suficiente para proteger o organismo das ações deletérias do LPS. / Sepsis is characterized by the overproduction of inflammatory mediators, accompanied by tachycardia and hypotension. Experimentally, administration of endotoxin (Lipopolysaccharide, LPS) in relatively high doses induces endotoxemic shock, a widely used model of sepsis in rats. Several groups have demonstrated anti-inflammatory and antitumor roles of citral, an essential oil compound of Cymbopogon citratus. Emilio-Silva et al. (2017) have shown an antipyretic role of citral in a model of LPS-induced fever, accompanied by a reduction of cytokines and prostaglandin E2 plasma levels and in the preoptic area of hypothalamus (POA), the hierarchically most important thermoregulatory region. We hypothesized that citral attenuates the LPS-induced hypotension, besides mitigating the thermoregulatory adjustments in rats. All procedures were performed in agreement with ethical guidelines for animal experimentation aproved by the local ethical committee (CEUA 2015.1 1214 58-2). Femoral artery and vein were implanted with cannulas for blood pressure recording and LPS (1.5 mg/kg) or 0.9% apyrogenic saline injection. In a second surgical procedure a datalogger was implanted into the peritoneal cavity for measurements of body temperature. All surgical procedures were performed under Ketamin/xilazin (100/10 mg/kg) anesthesia. One day after arterial catheterization, 30 minutes prior to LPS or saline administration, the animals received either citral (100 mg / kg) or 1% tween 80 (vehicle) oralstarly. The cardiovascular parameters and body temperature were recorded for 300 minutes after the respective treatments. Mean blood pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR) were collected every 10 minutes after treatments and body temperature was recorded by the datalogger at 5 minute intervals. Blood samples were obtained in another set of rats for interleukin-6, PGE2, nitrite and nitrate and corticosterone analyses. The brain was removed for PGE2 and PGD2 analyses. Statistical differences between groups were analyzed by the two-way or one-way ANOVA test followed by Newman-Keuls post-test, with significance level adopted at p <0.05. As expected, LPS administration caused a decrease in MAP and an increase in HR, and these responses were not affected by citral. LPS also induced fever and increased plasma levels of interleukin - 6 (IL - 6), nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin E 2 andcorticosterone. These parameters were also not altered by citral. On the other hand, citral caused a reduction in prostaglandin D2 concentration in the POA, but failed to alter PGE2 levels in this region. Our data are consistent with the notion that citral does not affect changes in cardiovascular and thermoregulatory parameters. Consistently, citral also caused no changes in both LPS-induced peripheral inflammatory mediators (in plasma) and in the POA, except PGD2. Therefore, in our model which mimetic a fairly critical situation, citral may not be sufficient to protect the organism from the deleterious actions of LPS. Financial support: FAPESP / CAPES.

Os bovinos mantidos em pastagens de regiões tropicais, incluindo os de origem zebuína, buscam a sombra como recurso de bem-estar térmico nos períodos mais quentes do dia. Neste sentido, o objetivo deste estudo foi avançar no entendimento da utilização de recursos provedores de bem-estar térmico, especialmente quando da utilização de bovinos de origem européia em regiões de clima tropical. Pretendeu-se quantificar a freqüência de utilização dos recursos de sombreamento e de água para imersão, disponibilizados a pasto para touros da raça Angus de pelagem curta e longa, avaliando também as causas e funções dos diferentes comportamentos, detectando as possíveis preferências por água para imersão ou sombra ou interações entre esses recursos. O experimento foi realizado no Campus de Pirassununga da Universidade de São Paulo. Os aspectos comportamentais de oito bovinos machos inteiros da raça Angus (400 Kg de peso vivo e 14 meses de idade) foram avaliados em três diferentes tratamentos: disponibilidade de sombra natural e artificial (TS), disponibilidade de sombra artificial e de água para imersão (TSA), e disponibilidade de água para imersão (TA). A temperatura do ar, a umidade relativa, a radiação solar, a velocidade do ar, e a temperatura de globo negro, foram registradas durante todo o período experimental. A temperatura máxima média do ar foi de 32ºC, com temperaturas de globo negro de 45ºC ao sol e 37ºC à sombra. Os maiores registros do índice de temperatura de globo e umidade variaram de 92 a 96. Os padrões de comportamento foram registrados através de coleta instantânea e contínua, com amostragem pelo método focal a cada 15 minutos, das 8h00 às 18h00. As variáveis comportamentais observadas foram a posição (ao sol, à sombra ou na água), a postura (em pé ou deitado) e as atividades (pastejo, ruminação, deslocamento, ócio ou outras atividades). Os resultados mostraram que a ocorrência da posição dos animais ao sol diminuiu consideravelmente das 12h00 às 14h00, para todos os tratamentos. O pastejo foi a principal atividade realizada ao sol, concentrado particularmente nos períodos menos quentes do dia. Quando no tratamento TSA, os animais preferiram utilizar o sombreamento como recurso de defesa contra o calor. O recurso de água para imersão foi utilizado com freqüência das 14h00 às 15h00 para TSA e das 8h00 às 15h00 para TA. De maneira geral, observa-se que os animais com menor comprimento de pêlos utilizaram menos os recursos de perda de calor que os animais de pelagem longa. Em condições de pastejo em climas quentes, recursos de defesa contra o calor são essenciais para a melhoria do bem-estar térmico dos bovinos. / Cattle, including Bos taurus and Bos indicus, under grazing conditions in tropical areas, seek shade during the hottest periods of the day. The objective of this study was to understand how Angus bulls use the thermal well-being resources, quantifying the frequencies of utilization of shade and water for immersion (pond), available in the pasture, evaluation the causes and functions of different behaviors, detecting the preferences for shade or water for immersion, or interactions of both. The experiment was conducted at the Universidade de São Paulo, Campus of Pirassununga. The behavioral patterns of eight young bulls (400 Kg live weight, 14 months of age), four with shorter hair length and four with longer hair length (> 1,30 cm), were evaluated in three different treatments: availability of natural and artificial shade (TS), availability of artificial shade and water for immersion (TSA) and availability of water for immersion (TA). The air temperature, relative humidity, solar radiation, and the black globe temperature were registered for all experimental periods. The average maximum air temperature was 32C and the black globe value was 45C. The highest value for the black globe-humidity index varied from 92 to 96. The behavioral patterns were recorded using the focal sampling method, every 15 minutes, from 8h00 a.m. to 6h00 p.m., and the categories observed were the position (in the sun, in the shade or in the water), the posture (standing or lying down) and the activities (grazing, ruminating, moving, resting or other). The results showed that the number of events of animals in the sun were considerably reduced from 12h00 a.m. to 2h00 p.m., for both treatments. The main activity occurring in the sun was grazing, especially concentrated during the cooler times of the day. When the animals were in the TSA treatment, they preferred to use the shade as a resource against the heat load. The pond was used often from 2h00 p.m. to 3h00 p.m. (TSA) and from 8h00 a.m. to 3h00 p.m. for TA. On a whole, the animals with shorter hair length utilized the thermal well-being resources less than the animals with longer hair. Under grazing conditions in hot climates, resources for defense against heat load are essential to improve the wellbeing conditions for cattle.

Les larves de Diptères nécrophages se développant sur un cadavre font face à de fortes pressions de sélection. Nous démontrons comment cet environnement extrême aurait favorisé l’apparition de stratégies comportementales efficaces et originales, basées sur des mécanismes comme la régulation thermique mais également la socialité.Ce travail pose en premier lieu les bases du comportement de régulation thermique des larves de Diptères Calliphoridae. En effet, celles-ci sont confrontées à un environnement thermique très hétérogène, dans lequel elles vont sélectionner la zone la plus appropriée à leur activité métabolique. Bien que différentes espèces exploitent la même ressource au même moment, nous avons observé que les larves de Lucilia sericata, Calliphora vomitoria et Calliphora vicina ont chacune une température préférentielle de développement. De plus, nous démontrons que ces larves sont en recherche constante de leur température préférentielle (thermorégulation), et qu’elles adaptent leur alimentation à la température du milieu. Ce premier volet d’expérimentations illustre ainsi le rôle prépondérant de la température dans le comportement des larves. En second lieu, ce travail s'intéresse à la dimension sociale des larves nécrophages, et plus particulièrement au comportement d'agrégation. Nous avons démontré chez Lucilia sericata un fort effet attractif et rétentif des congénères, rendant manifeste une prévalence de la socialité sur la régulation thermique. Les résultats sont cependant drastiquement différents dans des conditions hétérospécifiques, où la formation du groupe varie selon les températures préférentielles et les cinétiques d’agrégation de chaque espèce. Ainsi, la température sélectionnée par un groupe hétérospécifique émerge d'un compromis entre les comportements de thermorégulation et d'agrégation. Enfin, ce travail analyse l’effet de ces stratégies comportementales sur le développement des individus.Nous montrons que le comportement de thermorégulation et l’action des congénères affectent la température sélectionnée par les larves, et donc, leur développement. De tels résultats démontrent l’existence de véritables stratégies comportementales individuelles et collectives de développement, reposant sur l’optimisation de paramètres multiples permettant aux larves de se développer au mieux dans cet écosystème extrême qu’est le cadavre en décomposition. / On a cadaver, necrophagous dipteran larvae suffer from strong selection pressures during their development. The premise of this thesis is that such an extreme, competitive and constraining environment would have favored the emergence of efficient developmental strategies, based on mechanisms such as thermal regulation but also sociality. This PhD work is divided into three parts. The first part focuses on the thermal behavior of Calliphorids larvae, which are confronted with a heterogeneous thermic environment on the corps, in which they select the most appropriate area for their metabolic activity. Firstly, this part shows that larvae have a preferential developmental temperature, which is different according to the species (Lucilia sericata, Calliphora vomitoria and Calliphora vicina), although they exploit the same resource at the same time. Secondly, this part demonstrates that the larvae are always in search of this preferential temperature and thirdly, that they adapt both their displacement and their food intake according to the temperature of the nourishing substrate. This first part of experiments demonstrates that the temperature parameters have a strong effect on larval behavior. The second part of this work focuses on the social dimension of larval behavior by analyzing the influence of congeners, mainly through their active aggregation behavior. We show for Lucilia sericata a strong attractive and retentive effect of the group, making obvious that sociality prevails over thermal regulation. However, these results are radically different under heterospecific conditions where the group formation strongly depends on preferential temperatures as well as aggregation kinetics of each species. Finally, the third part of this work analyzes the effects of temperature and congeners on the development of individuals and shows that both the behavior of thermoregulation and the action of congeners impact the temperature selected by larvae, and therefore, their development. These results indicate the existence of individual and collective behavioral development strategies based on the optimization of multiple parameters that allow larvae to develop ideally in this extreme ecosystem of a decaying corpse.

Good quality sleep is essential for mental and physical health. Inadequate sleep impacts memory consolidation, learning and cognition, immune function, autonomic regulation, physical performance, and other vital functions. In many neurological disorders that are associated with sleep problems such as epilepsy and Alzheimer’s disease, changes in brain circuitry affect sleep-wake regulation mechanisms; this is reflected in anomalous sleep-wake architecture and usually accompanied by poor sleep depth. Thus, over many years, many approaches have been tried in humans and animal models with the goal of improving sleep quality. Unfortunately, each of those approaches comes with limitations or side effects. Thus, there is a need for a natural, safe, and low cost approach that overcomes many limitations to improve sleep and eventually the lives of individuals with sleep problems. Environmental temperature is one of the most important factors that affect sleep in humans and other animals. Studies have shown that the part of the brain governing thermoregulation is also involved in sleep-wake regulation. Even a mild change in environmental temperature can produce a significant effect on sleep. Thus, a better understanding of the sleep-thermoregulation interaction could lead to novel ways for treating many sleep disorders. As a first step on the translational pathway, experiments in animal models of disease conditions with disordered sleep are needed for investigating sleep–thermoregulation interactions and for devising and validating related approaches to enhance sleep quality before conducting them on humans. This dissertation explores and assesses the effect of changes in ambient temperature on sleep-wake architecture in control mice and epileptic mice, the latter from a model of temporal lobe epilepsy as an example of a disease model with disordered sleep. Then, based on the results of temperature effects on sleep in control and epileptic mice, different strategies are proposed and tested to modulate sleep through ambient temperature regulation in closed loop to improve sleep depth and regulate the timing of the sleep-wake cycle. The results presented in this dissertation demonstrate the feasibility of sleep enhancement and regulation of its timing and duration through manipulation of ambient temperature using closed-loop control systems. Similar approaches could foreseeably be used as more natural means for enhancing deep sleep in patients with epilepsy, Alzheimer’s, or Parkinson’s disease in which poor sleep is common and associated with adverse outcomes.

Maintaining thermal balance is essential for all homeotherms but can be especially challenging for pinnipeds which must regulate over a variety of ambient temperatures and habitats as part of their life history. Young pinnipeds, with their immature physiology and inexperience, have the additional expense of needing to allocate energy for growth while still dealing with a thermally stressful aquatic environment. With the immense environmental and physiological pressures acting on juvenile age-classes, declines in prey resources would be particularly detrimental to survival. The goal of the present study was to examine the metabolic and thermoregulatory capabilities of juvenile Steller sea lions to better understand how changing prey resources indirectly impact juvenile age classes. Data collected from captive Steller sea lions suggest that changes in body mass and body composition influence the thermoregulatory capabilities of smaller sea lions in stationary and flowing water. Serial thermal images taken of sea lions after emergence from the water show vasoconstriction of the flippers compared to the body trunk to help minimize heat loss. Despite this ability to vasoconstrict, sea lions in poor body condition displayed a reduced tolerance for colder water temperatures, suggesting that decreases in prey availability which affect insulation may limit survival in younger sea lions. If reductions in prey availability (i.e., nutritional stress) were impacting western Alaskan populations, a reduction in energetic expenditures would be expected in these animals to cope. Measures of resting metabolism in juvenile free-ranging Steller sea lions across Alaska showed no differences between eastern and western capture locations, suggesting no evidence of metabolic depression in declining western stocks of sea lions. Finally, thermal costs predicted by a thermal balance model were compared to actual costs measured in the present study. Model output reliably predicted thermoregulatory costs for juvenile Steller sea lions under certain environmental conditions. Basic physiological measurements combined with the predictive power of modeling will allow for greater exploration of the environmental constraints on juvenile Steller sea lions and identify directions of future study.

<p>Southern Africa harbours one-third of the world&rsquo / s Testudinid species, many of which inhabit arid or semi-arid areas, but ecological information on these species is scant. I studied the habitat, morphology and ecology of Kalahari tent tortoises over 13 months in semi-arid Savanna at Benfontein farm, Northern Cape Province, South Africa. In order to allow continuous monitoring of individuals, I attached radiotransmitters to males and females, split equally between two habitats, sites E (east) and W (west), with apparent differences in vegetation structure. Results of the study were based on data obtained from 27 telemetered tortoises and 161 individuals encountered opportunistically. Female Kalahari tent tortoises were larger than males and the sex ratio did not differ from 1:1. Based on person-hours to capture tortoises, the population appeared to have a low density, with more time required to capture a juvenile (35 hours) than an adult (10-11 hours). The frequency distribution of body size ranges was indicative of recruitment. Relative age, based on annuli counts, suggested that males were younger than females, perhaps because males as the smaller sex are more predation-prone than females. Linear relationships between annuli counts and shell volume indicated that, after reaching sexual maturity, female body size increased faster in volume than did male body size, possibly because a larger volume may enhance female reproductive success. Body condition differed between sites, sexes and among seasons. The hot and dry summer may account for low summer body condition, whereas vegetation differences and size effects, respectively, may account for the low body condition of tortoises in site W and in males. Site E was sandy with grasses, particularly Schmidtia pappophoroides, being the prevalent growth form. This habitat resembled a Savanna vegetation type Schmidtia pappophoroides &ndash / Acacia erioloba described for a neighbouring reserve. Site W was stonier, dominated by shrubs, and was reminiscent of Northern Upper Karoo vegetation (NKu3). Neither site resembled Kimberley Thornveld (SVk4), the designated vegetation type of the area. Differences in substrate and grazing intensity may have contributed to site vegetation differences. Rainfall had an important influence on seasonal vegetation. Short grass abundance correlated with rainfall and annual plants sprouted after spring rain. Refuge use changed according to season and sex. Males selected denser refuges than females did, perhaps because males were smaller and more vulnerable to predation and solar heat. Tortoises selected sparse, short grass as refuges in cool months, probably to maximise basking whilst remaining in protective cover. During hot periods, mammal burrows were preferred to vegetation as refugia. The smaller males spent more time in cover than females, which may be related to predator avoidance or thermoregulation.&nbsp / Females spent more time basking than males, perhaps due to their larger size and to facilitate reproductive processes. Tortoises did not brumate, but through a combination of basking, and orientation relative to the sun in their refuges, managed to attain body temperatures that allowed small bouts of activity. Body temperature for active tortoises was similar among seasons, and was higher for more specialised active behaviours, such as feeding and socialising, than for walking. Increased activity by males in spring could relate to mating behaviour while females were more active in autumn, when they foraged more than males, perhaps due to the high cost of seasonal reproductive requirements. Males displaced further per day than did females, but home range estimates did not differ between sexes. Annual home range estimates varied substantially among individuals: 0.7&ndash / 306 ha for minimum convex polygons and 0.7&ndash / 181 ha for 95% fixed kernel estimates. The ability to&nbsp / cover large areas would assist tortoises in finding resources, e.g., food, in an area where resource distribution may be patchy. Differences among seasonal home ranges and movements probably reflect seasonal climatic change / activity areas shrinking when temperatures were extreme. In order to assess the effects of a semi-arid environment on the morphology of P. oculifer, I compared its morphology to that of its &lsquo / cool-adapted&rsquo / sister taxon Psammobates geometricus, using live and museum specimens. Both P. oculifer and P. geometricus are sexually dimorphic and differences between the two species could indicate environmental or sexual selection effects, or a combination of the two. The shorter bridge length, which allowed more leg space, and wider front feet in P. oculifer cohorts probably represent traits for manoeuvring in a sandy habitat, while wider heads in P. oculifer possibly relate to interspecific differences in diet. The flatter shell in female P. oculifer, relative to P. geometricus, may represent a trade-off between space for reproductive structures, e.g., eggs, and the need to fit into small refuges, e.g., mammal burrows. Male P. oculifer had wider shells, more space around their hind legs, and wider hind feet than P. geometricus males had, all characteristics which may assist males to fight and mate in a sandy environment.</p>

This thesis examined why NCAA Division 1 American football “linemen” experience greater heat strain than “backs” during summer training camps. In study #1, exercise at a heat production of 350 W/m2 in a hot environment (Tdb:32.4±1.0ºC; Twb:26.3±0.6ºC) resulted in greater local sweating on the upper body (head, arm, shoulder and chest; all <0.05) and a greater core temperature (P=0.033) in linemen despite a ~25% lower heat production per unit mass (L:6.0±0.5 W/kg; B:8.2±0.8 W/kg). In study #2, greater convective and evaporative heat transfer coefficients (P<0.05) were found in backs during live summer training camp drills, but these did not lead to a greater dry heat transfer or evaporative capacity. However, the maximum metabolic rate per unit mass was lower in linemen due to differences surface area-to-mass ratio. In conclusion, the greater heat strain previously reported in linemen likely arises, in part, from differences in sweating efficiency and body morphology.

Temperature variation affects most biological parameters from the molecular level to community structure and dynamics. Current studies on thermal biology assess how populations vary in response to environmental temperature, which can help determine how populations differentially respond to climate change. To date, temperature fluctuation effects on endothermic poikilotherms such as the common eastern bumblebee (Bombus impatiens) are unknown even though bumblebees are the most important natural pollinators in North America. A cold-acclimation experiment with B. impatiens colonies revealed individuals acclimated to 5°C or 10°C at night did not differ in resting metabolic rate, flight metabolic rate, wingbeat frequency, or morphological measurements, compared to the control group. Moreover, an infrared camera showed that all colonies maintained maximum nest temperature consistently above 36.8°C. A latitudinal sampling of flight metabolic rate and morphological measurements of B. impatiens from four locations spanning Ontario (N 45°; W 75°) to North Carolina (N 34°; W 77°) indicated no latitudinal trend in the measured variables. This study shows that bumblebees are well equipped to face a wide range of environmental temperatures, both in the short term and long term, and can use a combination of behavioural and physiological mechanisms to regulate body and nest temperatures. These results are reassuring on the direct effects of climate change on bumblebee ecology, but further studies on the indirect effect of temperature variation on North American bumblebees are required to predict future ecosystem dynamics.