Huddling can be defined as “an active and close aggregation of animals”. It is a cooperative
group behaviour, permitting individuals involved in social thermoregulation to minimize heat …

Environmental change poses challenges to many organisms. The resilience of a species to
such change depends on its ability to respond adaptively. Social flexibility is such an …

The Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, with low precipitation, low oxygen partial pressure, and
temperatures routinely dropping below− 30° C in winter, presents several physiological …

Background Huddling is highly evolved as a cooperative behavioral strategy for social
mammals to maximize their fitness in harsh environments. Huddling behavior can change …

Beyond breathing, the regulation of body temperature—thermoregulation—is one of the
most pressing concerns for many animals. A dysregulated body temperature has dire …

Time constraints can limit an animal's potential to survive in a given habitat and the
maximum size of its group. Many studies have, therefore, investigated the ecological …

Many animals live in groups because of the potential benefits associated with defense and
foraging. Group living may also induce a 'calming effect'on individuals, reducing overall …

Social groups typically form due to delayed dispersal of adult offspring when no
opportunities for independent breeding exist, or the costs of dispersal are higher than the …

The adjustments in thermal physiology and energetics were investigated in male desert
hamsters (Phodopus roborovskii) which were acclimated to 5° C for 4 weeks. Mean core …

1. Clustering lessens heat loss in euthermic animals by decreasing exposed surface area.
However, clustering is also used during heterothermic periods such as hibernation, when …