© Darren Pietersen / APWG | www.pangolin.org.za
The endangered Temminck’s pangolin (Smutsia temminckii) has to handle the changing climate of South Africa. The pangolins main diet includes ants and termites, so researchers were interested to see how pangolins dealt with decreased food abundance due to climate change and droughts. The scientists tracked 10 pangolins back to their burrows and set up cameras to monitor activity. A few months later, scientists were able to recapture 7 of the 10 original pangolins and fit them with internal thermometers to measure their body temperature. The researchers also kept track of the climate and rainfall of the study area, as well as the availability of food sources.
Researchers found that the body temperature of the pangolins remained stable throughout the year, with the exception of the winter months (June – August). During the winter, and during droughts, pangolins body temperature fluctuated more than usual. During the drought, the ant population dropped by 56%. The researchers found that during this time, the pangolins were able to reduce their body temperature and slow their metabolism, reducing the amount of energy they burn, and thus the amount of food they need to consume. Additionally, during the winter months, pangolins changed from being active at night to being active during the day. The scientist believe that this may be a way for the pangolins to preserve energy during the cold nights of the winter. By being active during the day, the pangolins are able to keep warm by the sun rather than using their energy to keep their temperature up.
This study suggests that pangolins show flexibility in their physiology that allows them to preserve energy during the winter months when food sources are low. This is a positive outlook for the endangered species and gives hope to researchers that the pangolins may be able to adapt to the changing climate of South Africa.
© Guy Colborne | guycolborne.photoshelter.com
Reference:
Panaino, W., Parrini, F., Kamerman, P., Hetem, R., Meyer, L., Smith, D., van Dyke, G. and Fuller, A. (2023). Temminck’s pangolins relax precision of body temperature regulation when resources are scarce in a semi-arid environment. Conserv. Physiol. 11. https://doi.org/10.1093/conphys/coad068