What was the main focus of the investigation in the study?
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To examine the effect of preceding cold exposure on the presence of thermal windows in elephants after returning indoors.
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What was the main focus of the investigation in the study?
To examine the effect of preceding cold exposure on the presence of thermal windows in elephants after returning indoors.
What physiological aspect does the thesis by Rowe, M.F. (1999) address?
Physiological responses of African elephants to a cold environment.
What thermoregulatory advantage do small areas of high temperature provide elephants?
They allow for flexible heat dissipation.
How do thermal windows typically expand on the elephant's ears?
They tend to expand from distal to proximal areas.
What factor influences the appearance of thermal windows in elephants?
Body weight.
What does the research by Roberts, M.F. and Zygmunt, A.C. (1984) examine?
Reflex and local thermal control of rabbit ear blood flow.
What was the average weight of the adult female elephants observed?
3215 ± 315 kg.
What was observed in the thermogram regarding the vessels?
The presence of the course of the vessels indicated the formation of thermal windows.
What does the study by Phillips, P.K. and Heath, J.E. (1992) investigate?
Heat exchange by the pinna of the African elephant.
What was the effect of ambient temperature on the occurrence of thermal windows?
The presence of thermal windows increased with increasing ambient temperature.
Where were the observations of the elephants conducted?
At the Vienna Zoo, Austria.
What was the highest skin temperature observed in elephants?
The trunk had the highest skin temperature, while the ear had the lowest.
What time-dependent changes were observed in thermal windows on the ears?
Changes in shape, size, and skin temperature (T_s).
What is the significance of the highly sculptured skin of elephants?
It promotes water retention and facilitates evaporation.
What forms the margins of the thermal windows of the African elephant's ears?
Veins.
What was the response variable in the analysis?
A binary variable indicating the presence (1) or absence (0) of thermal windows.
What factors were tested for their influence on the presence of thermal windows?
Ambient temperature (T_a), elephants' age, and body weight.
What is the significance of the vascular network in elephant ears?
It aids in heat dissipation through dilation or constriction of ear vessels.
What is the main finding of the study by Spinage, C.A. (1994)?
General information about elephants.
What is the mean rate of increase in size of thermal windows on the ears?
0.5 ± 0.46% of the total ear surface per minute.
What statistical method was used to analyze the data?
A generalized linear mixed model (lmer) via Laplace method.
What was the maximum number of thermal windows observed on an ear surface at one time?
Four thermal windows.
What is the main subject of the research by Williams, T.M. (1990)?
Heat transfer in elephants based on skin temperature profiles.
What happens to the rate of ear flapping in elephants as ambient temperature rises?
The rate of ear flapping increases.
How long was the observation period for the elephants?
11 days between December 2004 and February 2005.
What does the research by Stocks et al. (2004) discuss?
Human physiological responses to cold exposure.
What is the focus of the article by Mariappa, D. (1986)?
Anatomy and Histology of the Indian Elephant.
What factors significantly influence the presence of thermal windows?
Ambient temperature (T_a) and body weight.
What does the study by Phillips, P.K. and Sanborn, A.F. (1994) focus on?
An infrared thermographic study of surface temperature in ratites.
What does the presence of thermal windows indicate about the elephant's ear?
It indicates areas of significantly different temperature distributions.
What does the presence of thermal windows indicate about the thermoregulatory processes in African elephants?
They are more developed and frequently operational than previously assumed.
What software was used to analyze the infrared images?
ThermaCam TM Researcher.
What was the significance of the predictors body weight and age on skin temperature?
They had no significant effect on skin temperature (all P ≥ 0.1).
What was surprising about the thermal windows found on elephants?
They were not restricted to the ear surfaces.
What was the main focus of the infrared thermography observations?
To analyze the presence, chronological development, temperature, and shape of thermal windows on the ears and torso of elephants.
What happens to thermal windows during cold exposure?
They 'close' to conserve metabolic heat.
What statistical method was used to analyze the data?
Linear mixed effect models (lme).
What percentage of cases observed thermal windows exceeding 50% of the anterior ear surface?
14.6%.
What temperature pattern differences were noted between the two pinnae of elephants?
Both pinnae could show totally different temperature patterns at the same time.
Where were thermal windows on the body most frequently observed?
Indoors (58.1% of observations).
What was the greatest documented temperature difference between thermal windows and adjacent regions?
14.6 °C.
In what percentage of cases was only one thermal window observed per ear?
57.9% of cases.
What percentage of observations showed the presence of thermal windows?
43.9% of all observations.
How can elephants control the temperature of their ears?
Through separated sympathetic innervation.
How did skin temperature (T_s) change with ambient temperature (T_a)?
T_s was higher on observation days with higher T_a and decreased with minutes of observation outdoors.
What was the mean ambient temperature during the observations?
The mean ambient temperature varied, with examples like 19.5°C and 16.7°C.
Where were most thermal windows detected?
51.6% occurred indoors.
How do thermal windows on the body differ from those on the ears?
Body thermal windows are surrounded by thermal transition zones, while ear windows have distinct margins.
What defines a thermal window in the context of this study?
A restricted area that differs by more than 5.0 °C from its adjacent regions.
What is the mean temperature (T_s) of thermal windows measured?
30.7 ± 2.4 °C.
What is the significance of the study by McKay, G.M. (1973)?
Behavior and ecology of the Asiatic elephant in South-Eastern Ceylon.
What happens to the thermal windows over time after returning indoors?
Thermal windows can increase in size and merge with each other.
What was the percentage of simultaneous presence of thermal windows on both ears and body?
Only 17.5% of all cases.
What role does evaporative heat loss play in elephants?
It is significant, especially when elephants bathe or coat themselves with mud.
What is the significance of controlling skin temperature in elephants?
It is crucial for their temperature regulation.
What are thermal windows in elephants?
Highly vascularized skin areas responsible for heat exchange.
Why are the ears of African elephants considered important for thermoregulation?
They have a large surface-to-volume ratio and extensive vascular supply for optimal heat dissipation.
What was observed in the preliminary examinations of African elephants?
Independent thermal windows on the whole elephant body.
What method was used to study thermal windows in African elephants?
Infrared thermography.
How do thermal windows help elephants regulate temperature?
By modifying and controlling blood flow through vasoconstriction and vasodilatation.
What factors increase the frequency of thermal windows in elephants?
Increasing ambient temperature and body weight.
What ambient temperature range was studied in relation to thermal windows?
Between -6.7 and 20.3 °C.
