PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC, July 25, 2024 /EINPresswire.com/ — A pioneering study utilizing high-resolution biologgers has uncovered how environmental conditions significantly influence sleep patterns in wild animals. Researchers investigated sleep in wild boars (Sus scrofa) over an annual cycle, providing the most detailed analysis of sleep in wild animals to date. This study offers crucial insights into the variability of sleep between individuals under changing environmental conditions and its potential implications for wildlife health.

The research team developed a robust classification system for accelerometer data to measure multiple dimensions of sleep. Their findings support the hypothesis that environmental conditions, particularly those affecting thermoregulation, play a crucial role in determining sleep patterns. Key discoveries include: Reduced Sleep on Warmer Days: Sleep quantity, efficiency, and quality diminish on warmer days, highlighting the impact of temperature on sleep regulation. Improved Sleep with Humidity and Snow Cover: Sleep is less fragmented during longer and more humid days, while greater snow cover and rainfall enhance sleep quality. Significant Variation Among Individuals: There is notable inter- and intra-individual variation in sleep patterns. Short-sleepers sleep up to 46% less than long-sleepers and do not compensate for reduced sleep through increased plasticity or quality, potentially facing higher costs of sleep deprivation.

“Sleep serves vital physiological functions, and understanding its variability under natural conditions is essential,” said Dr. Silovský from Czech University of Life Sciences. “Our study shows that environmental factors, particularly those related to climate, significantly impact sleep in wild animals.”

The study’s results suggest that global warming and the associated increase in extreme climatic events could adversely affect sleep and, consequently, the health of wildlife, especially nocturnal animals. Given the major role of sleep in maintaining health, these findings underscore the potential long-term effects of climate change on wildlife populations.

This research marks a significant step forward in understanding the ecological and physiological aspects of sleep in wild animals. It highlights the importance of considering environmental variables in wildlife conservation strategies, particularly as global temperatures continue to rise.

https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rspb.2023.2115

Karla Mrackova
Czech University of Life Sciences
+420 22438 3219
[email protected]