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The energetics of sociality in the molerats (Bathyergidae)
Primarily, this thesis attempts to resolve the debate concerning the factors selecting for the characteristic physiological traits of subterranean rodents. It also isolates the the probable causes of eusociality within the molerats (Bathyergidae). The bathyergids display the widest range of socialit...
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English |
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Department of Biological Sciences
2023
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| _version_ | 1867613187823632384 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Lovegrove, Barry Gordon |
| author2 | Lauw, Gideon |
| author_browse | Lauw, Gideon Lovegrove, Barry Gordon |
| author_facet | Lauw, Gideon Lovegrove, Barry Gordon |
| author_sort | Lovegrove, Barry Gordon |
| collection | Thesis |
| description | Primarily, this thesis attempts to resolve the debate concerning the factors selecting for the characteristic physiological traits of subterranean rodents. It also isolates the the probable causes of eusociality within the molerats (Bathyergidae). The bathyergids display the widest range of sociality of all mammals, from strictly solitary genera (Bathyergus, Georychus, Heliophobius), to social and eusocial genera (Cryptomys and Heterocephalus). Sufficient ecological data on key species (e.g., Cryptomys damarensis) were obtained to confirm trends in resource distributions associated with an aridity gradient and increasing sociality. This included data on resource characteristics, seasonal soil and burrow temperature regimes, burrow structures, colony structures, and the activity patterns of C. damarensis. Thermoregulation, including measurements of body temperature (Tb) and resting metabolic rates (RMR), was investigated for Bathyergus, Cryptomys, and Georychus, and compared with data from other workers obtained for Heterocephalus and Heliophobius. The cost of burrowing was measured for C. damarensis and H. glaber |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/38834 |
| institution | University of Cape Town (South Africa) |
| language | eng |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:32:09.918Z |
| license_str | Not specified — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository |
| publishDate | 2023 |
| publishDateRange | 2023 |
| publishDateSort | 2023 |
| publisher | Department of Biological Sciences |
| publisherStr | Department of Biological Sciences |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository |
| spelling | oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/38834 The energetics of sociality in the molerats (Bathyergidae) Lovegrove, Barry Gordon Lauw, Gideon Bathyergidae Primarily, this thesis attempts to resolve the debate concerning the factors selecting for the characteristic physiological traits of subterranean rodents. It also isolates the the probable causes of eusociality within the molerats (Bathyergidae). The bathyergids display the widest range of sociality of all mammals, from strictly solitary genera (Bathyergus, Georychus, Heliophobius), to social and eusocial genera (Cryptomys and Heterocephalus). Sufficient ecological data on key species (e.g., Cryptomys damarensis) were obtained to confirm trends in resource distributions associated with an aridity gradient and increasing sociality. This included data on resource characteristics, seasonal soil and burrow temperature regimes, burrow structures, colony structures, and the activity patterns of C. damarensis. Thermoregulation, including measurements of body temperature (Tb) and resting metabolic rates (RMR), was investigated for Bathyergus, Cryptomys, and Georychus, and compared with data from other workers obtained for Heterocephalus and Heliophobius. The cost of burrowing was measured for C. damarensis and H. glaber 2023-09-22T13:33:07Z 2023-09-22T13:33:07Z 1987 2023-09-22T13:32:39Z Doctoral Thesis Doctoral PhD http://hdl.handle.net/11427/38834 eng application/pdf Department of Biological Sciences Faculty of Science |
| spellingShingle | Bathyergidae Lovegrove, Barry Gordon The energetics of sociality in the molerats (Bathyergidae) |
| thesis_degree_str | Doctoral |
| title | The energetics of sociality in the molerats (Bathyergidae) |
| title_full | The energetics of sociality in the molerats (Bathyergidae) |
| title_fullStr | The energetics of sociality in the molerats (Bathyergidae) |
| title_full_unstemmed | The energetics of sociality in the molerats (Bathyergidae) |
| title_short | The energetics of sociality in the molerats (Bathyergidae) |
| title_sort | energetics of sociality in the molerats bathyergidae |
| topic | Bathyergidae |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/11427/38834 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT lovegrovebarrygordon theenergeticsofsocialityinthemoleratsbathyergidae AT lovegrovebarrygordon energeticsofsocialityinthemoleratsbathyergidae |