SICB 2012 Annual Meeting Abstracts

of Western Ontario; [email protected] Multiple trade-offs among life-history and metabolic traits mitigate the impacts of overwintering microclimate on the fitness of Fall Webworm across its native range. The impact of the environment on distinct physiological and ecological traits, and across life-stages, can result in trade-offs that combine to determine the fitness of individuals and thus population dynamics. We examined the role of local adaptation and plasticity in modifying the life-history and physiological characteristics of a widespread, generalist pest species Hyphantria cunea, Lepidoptera: Arctiidae) from the centre (Columbus, OH [CO]) or northern periphery (Ottawa, ON [OT]) of their range, in response to overwintering microclimate conditions approximating the collection sites (northern or southern treatments), in a reciprocal common garden design. Populations differed in the majority of life-history and metabolic traits, but this differentiation did not appear to be adaptive. Diapause entry was advanced in CO compared to OT populations, which had negative effects on adult size, but larger pupal size in CO pupae compensated for this effect. Pupae facul tat ive ly suppressed the ir metabol ism at warm, energetically demanding southern temperatures, which more than compensated for the increased energetic demands of warmer winters, as pupae from the warm southern treatment actually had more energy reserves remaining at the end of winter than did the cooler northern treatment. This species thus has a large repertoire of genotypic and plastic changes to life-history and metabolic traits that render them relatively insensitive to changes in their overwintering thermal environment. 27.1 WILLIAMS, T.M.*; WOLFE, L.L.; DAVIS, T.R.; KENDALL, T.; RICHTER, B.; ELKAIM, G.; WILMERS, C.; Univ. of California, Santa Cruz, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Fort Collins; [email protected] Energetics and Mechanics of Mountain Lions: A step by step analysis for carnivore conservation As one of North America’s largest terrestrial carnivores, the mountain lion (Puma concolor) places extraordinary demands on habitats and prey resources. As a result, conflicts with human activities can occur but have been difficult to predict. We developed a new “smart” collar incorporating physiological attributes of the animal, GPS and accelerometers to monitor movements, behavior and energetics of free-ranging lions in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Collars were calibrated on three adult lions (mass = 65.7 kg) trained to wear the collar in a natural enclosure and whi le walk ing on a treadmil l . Oxygen consumption (VO2) was determined by open-flow respirometry from rest to 7 km.hr-1 and correlated to gait. The data were then used to assign behavioral and energetic signatures to collar signals. VO2 (mlO2.kg.min) increased linearly with walking speed (m.s-1) according to VO2 = 8.71 + 10.12speed (r2=0.96). Net transport costs and gait transition speeds of mountain lions were as predicted for quadrupeds. Conversely, total energetic costs for both rest and activity were 71% higher than predicted for domestic mammals, following the trend for elevated metabolism in large carnivores. Tests with collared, free-ranging lions demonstrated peak energy expenditure during dawn and dusk for lone females while those with kittens maintained constant hunting/energetic demands throughout the day. This integrative wildlife monitoring approach provides new insights regarding optimal foraging by a large carnivore, and demonstrates the importance of species-specific physiological traits when developing conservation plans.