Non-invasive measurements of respiration and heart rate across wildlife species using Eulerian Video Magnification of infrared thermal imagery.

Background: An animal's metabolic rate, or energetic expenditure, both impacts and is impacted by interactions with its environment. However, techniques for obtaining measurements of metabolic rate are invasive, logistically difficult, and costly. Red-green-blue (RGB) imaging tools have been used in humans and select domestic mammals to accurately measure heart and respiration rate, as proxies of metabolic rate.

Changes in serum adipokines during natural extended fasts in female northern elephant seals.

Adipose tissue is essential to endotherms for thermoregulation and energy storage as well as functioning as an endocrine organ. Adipose derived hormones, or adipokines, regulate metabolism, energy expenditure, reproduction, and immune function in model systems but are less well studied in wildlife. Female northern elephant seals (NES) achieve high adiposity during foraging and then undergo natural fasts up to five weeks long during haul-outs associated with reproduction and molting, resulting in large changes in adipose reserves.

Lipolysis and Leptin Production of Elephant Seal Blubber Using Precision-Cut Adipose Tissue Slices.

Adipose tissue plays key roles in energy homeostasis. Understanding its metabolism and regulation is essential to predict the impact of environmental changes on wildlife health, especially in fasting-adapted species. However, experimental work in wild vertebrates can be challenging.

Temperature constrains locomotion and muscle function in two temperate labrids.

Winter quiescence in fishes is not uncommon, however understanding the mechanisms that cause dormancy are poorly understood. This study highlights the physiological stress temperature places on locomotor musculature and its consequences on whole organism locomotion. Cunner and tautog experience temperatures ranging from 0 to 25 °C and enter dormancy at ~10 °C.

Behavioral and physiological adaptations to high-flow velocities in chubs ( spp.) native to Southwestern USA.

Morphological streamlining is often associated with physiological advantages for steady swimming in fishes. Though most commonly studied in pelagic fishes, streamlining also occurs in fishes that occupy high-flow environments. Before the installation of dams and water diversions, bonytail (Cyprinidae, ), a fish endemic to the Colorado River (USA), regularly experienced massive, seasonal flooding events.