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Grow Temperature Research Paper

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This study depicted that common wombat burrows provide a constant temperature 1-2m from the entrance within four different habitats – open field, forested, short ground cover and sandy bank – during both summer and autumn. However, noticeable differences in the temperatures between the seasons were observed. Although, this was expected as the insulating properties of the soil stop daily, but not seasonal, fluctuations in temperature from a depth of approximately 0.30cm (Reichman & Smith 1990), with the main factors that did influence burrow temperatures being time of day, elevation during summer and aspect during autumn. There are few studies in the literature that display the influences of elevation and aspect on burrow temperatures so these may present novel findings that might impact burrow location or use. The general outcome that burrow temperatures remain constant while temperatures outside the burrow fluctuate, however, is supported in many studies of different species. Shimmin et al …show more content…

These stable temperatures within the burrow coincide with many previous studies conducted on other burrowing animals, with all studies agreeing that the temperatures are constant daily but have a gradual seasonal change. This presents strong evidence that burrows maintain a consistent microhabitat that is effective in providing shelter from weather extremes, thereby allowing burrows to be regarded as an appropriate mechanism of thermal tolerance. The influence temperature has on wombat behaviour cannot be fully addressed due to the declining wombat population at the study site, however, it may be attributed to the small ambient temperature ranges that were experienced not having a significant impact on wombat presence in this

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