Tree-hugging behavior beats the heat
Natalie J Briscoe*
National Environmental Research Program (NERP); School of Botany; University of Melbourne; Melbourne, Australia
ABSTRACT
Animals can exploit spatial and temporal variation in microclimates to avoid stressful conditions, behavior that is likely to become increasingly important in a warming world. Recent research shows that during hot weather cool tree trunk surfaces can provide an important heat-loss avenue for arboreal mammals and other tree-dwelling animals.