The use heated taxidermic mounts in studies of ecological energetics

The accuracy of heated taxidermic mounts in estimating the standard operati ve temperature (T-ES) of live mammals has been recently criticized (Walsber g and Wolf 1996). To further assess this issue, I performed Monte Carlo sim ulations to estimate the inter-individual variation associated with the ave rage T-ES of live golden-mantled ground squirrels (Spermophilus lateralis) and of rock squirrels (S. variegatus) exposed to various wind speeds. The T -ES of live rodents was significantly more variable than that of heated mou nts. As wind speed increased, heated mounts and live mammals tended to yiel d T-ES estimates that differed statistically. Potential reasons for such de parture are discussed.