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André A. Dhondt Alexander V. Badyaev Andrew P. Dobson Dana M. Hawley Melanie J.L. Driscoll Wesley M. Hochachka David H. Ley 《EcoHealth》2006,3(2):95-102
In 1994, Mycoplasma gallisepticum, a common bacterial poultry pathogen, caused an epidemic in house finches in the eastern part of their North American range where the species had been introduced in the 1940s. Birds with mycoplasmal conjunctivitis were reported across the entire eastern United States within 3–4 years. Here we track the course of the Mycoplasma gallisepticum epidemic as it reached native, western North American populations of the house finch. In 2002, Mycoplasma gallisepticum was first observed in a native house finch population in Missoula, MT, where it gradually increased in prevalence during the next 2 years. Concurrently, house finches with conjunctivitis were reported with increasing number in the Pacific Northwest. In native populations of the host, the epidemic expanded more slowly, and reached lower levels of prevalence than in the eastern, introduced range of the species. Maximal prevalence was about half in the Missoula population than in local populations in the East. Although many factors can contribute to these differences, we argue that it is most likely the higher genetic heterogeneity in western than in eastern populations caused the lower impact of the pathogen. 相似文献
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Summary Metabolic rates by means of oxygen consumption (VO2) at various ambient temperatures (T
a) and food consumption as well as water intake and thermoregulation were compared between individuals of the Cape porcupine Hystrix africaeaustralis acclimated to T
a=32°C with a photoperiod of 16L:8D summer-acclimated and T
a=10°C; 8L:16D winter-acclimated. The lower critical temperature as well as overall minimal thermal conductance were lower for the winter-acclimated porcupines when compared to summer-acclimated ones, while VO2 at the thermoneutral-zone was significantly (P<0.001) higher in the winter-acclimated porcupines. Dry matter intake, apparent digestible dry matter intake, gross digestible energy intake, as well as water intake, were significantly higher in the winter-acclimated porcupines. Yet, while dry matter intake increased 4 times in the winter-acclimated porcupines, apparent digestible dry matter increased only at a rate of 2.9 times. This difference is better reflected in terms of digestibility efficiency which in the winter-acclimated porcupines is only at a rate of 67.5% while in the summer-acclimated porcupines it is at a rate of 90%. From the results of this study, it is possible to assume that heat production in the winter-acclimated porcupines is partly increased by food intake. Increased heat production on the one hand, and a decrease in overall minimal thermal conductance on the other, seem to be important mechanisms in winter acclimatization of the Cape porcupine. 相似文献
5.
在自然环境中,有机体某一特性的可塑性变化在适应和功能方面是非常重要的。以成年白头鹎(Pycnonotus sinensis)为研究对象,分别在野外驯化条件和实验室温度适应条件下测定静止代谢率(RMR)、蒸发失水率(EWL)和代谢活性器官的重量,同时测定肝脏及肌肉的线粒体呼吸和细胞色素C氧化酶活力(COX)。野外季节性驯化在冬季和夏季时测定;实验室温度适应分为2组,分别在10℃和30℃下适应4周后进行测定。结果显示,与夏季驯化和暖适应组相比,冬季驯化和冷适应组RMR和EWL较高、代谢活性器官较重,线粒体呼吸速率和COX活性显著增加;器官重量和细胞产热能力的适应性变化可能是导致了RMR适应性调节。结果表明,白头鹎可以表现出对季节性驯化和温度适应的生理反应,利用这种能力应付野外环境温度的波动。生理能量特性的可塑性是鸟类能量代谢的共同特征。 相似文献
6.
Leukocyte profiles (relative numbers of white blood cell types) have been used by a growing number of ecological studies to assess immune function and stress in wild birds. House Finches (Carpodacus mexicanus) in eastern North America are susceptible to an eye disease caused by the bacterium Mycoplasma gallisepticum, providing the opportunity to examine whether leukocyte profiles are associated with infection status and other host characteristics. In this study, we compared blood smears from 297 wild House Finches with and without conjunctivitis to examine whether leukocyte profiles were associated with the presence and severity of mycoplasmal conjunctivitis. We also evaluated the influence of age, sex, and molt on leukocyte profiles in both diseased and nondiseased birds. Of 243 House Finches of known age and sex sampled, 30% showed clinical signs of mycoplasmal conjunctivitis. House Finches with conjunctivitis had significantly higher heterophil to lymphocyte (H/L) ratios and harbored greater numbers and proportions of heterophils and monocytes than nondiseased birds. Leukocyte profiles of noninfected birds did not differ significantly with respect to sex, but young birds had significantly greater numbers of lymphocytes and total white blood cells than adults. Molting birds had significantly more eosinophils than nonmolting birds. Finally, House Finches with the most severe outward signs of conjunctivitis showed the most dramatic leukocyte changes relative to noninfected individuals, and increasing H/L ratios and monocytes in diseased birds were paralleled in a subset of birds that were recaptured during the study period. These results are consistent with patterns observed in domestic poultry and suggest that understanding patterns of leukocyte differentials in this host-pathogen system could improve our understanding of innate immunity and infectious disease risk in other wild passerines. 相似文献
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Zheng WH Li M Liu JS Shao SL 《Comparative biochemistry and physiology. Part A, Molecular & integrative physiology》2008,151(4):519-525
Acclimatization to winter conditions is an essential prerequisite for survival of small passerines of the northern temperate zone. Changes in photoperiod, ambient temperature and food availability trigger seasonal acclimatization in physiology and behavior of many birds. In the present study, seasonal adjustments in several physiological, hormonal, and biochemical markers were examined in wild-captured Eurasian tree sparrows (Passer montanus) from the Heilongjiang Province in China. In winter sparrows had higher body mass and basal metabolic rate (BMR). Consistently, the dry mass of liver, heart, gizzard, small intestine, large intestine and total digestive tract were higher in winter than in that in summer. The contents of mitochondrial protein in liver, and state-4 respiration and cytochrome c oxidase (COX) activity in liver and muscle increased significantly in winter. Circulating level of serum triiodothyronine (T3) was significantly higher in winter than in summer. Together, these data suggest that tree sparrows mainly coped with cold by enhancing thermogenic capacities through increased organ masses and heightened activity of respiratory enzymes activities. The results support the view that prominent winter increases in BMR are manifestations of winter acclimatization in tree sparrows and that seasonal variation in metabolism in sparrows is similar to that in other small temperate-wintering birds. 相似文献
9.
Summary The Diamond Dove, Geopelia cuneata, is the world's second smallest (ca. 35 g) species of the columbid order. The Diamond Dove is endemic in the arid and semiarid Mulga and Spinifex regions of Central and Western Australia. It regularly encounters ambient temperatures (T
a
) in its habitat above +40° C, especially when foraging for seeds on bare ground cover, and may be found at up to 40 km from water. This entails extreme thermal stress, with evaporative cooling constrained by limited water supply. Energy metabolism (M), respiration, body temperature (T
a
) and water budget were examined with regard to physiological adaptations to these extreme environmental conditions. The zone of thermal neutrality (TNZ) extended from +34° C to at least +45° C. Basal metabolic rate (BMR) was 34.10±4.19 J g–1h–1, corresponding to the values predicted for a typical columbid bird. Thermal conductance (C) was higher than predicted. Geopelia cuneata showed the typical breathing pattern of doves, a combination of normal breathing at a stable frequency (ca. 60 min–1) at low T
a
and panting followed by gular flutter (up to 960 min–1) at high T
a
. At T
a
> +36° C, T
a
increased to considerably higher levels without increasing metabolic rate, i.e. Q10=1. This enabled the doves not only to store heat but also to save the amout of water that would have been required for evaporative cooling if T
a
had remained constant. The birds were able to dissipate more than 100% of the metabolic heat by evaporation at T
a
+44° C. This was achieved by gular flutter (an extremely effective mechanism for evaporation), and also by a low metabolic rate due to the low Q10 value for metabolism during increased T
b
. At lower T
a
, Geopelia cuneata predominantly relied on non-evaporative mechanisms during heat stress, to save water. Total evaporative water loss over the whole T
a
range was 19–33% lower than expected. In this respect, their small body size proved to be an important advantage for successful survival in hot and arid environments.Abbreviations and units Body Mass W
(g)
- Ambient Temperature T
a
(°C)
- Body Temperature T
b
(°C)
- Thermoneutral Zone
(TNZ)
- Metabolism M
(J g–1 h–1)
- Thermal Conductance
C
- wet Thermal Conductance C
wet
(J g–1 h–1 °C–1)
- Evaporative Water Loss EWL
(mg H2O g–1 h–1)
- Evaporative Heat Loss EHL
(J g–1 h–1)
- Breathing Frequency F
(breaths min–1)
- Tidal Volume V
t
(ml breath–1)
- Standard Temperature Pressure Dry
STPD
- Body Temperature Pressure Saturated
BTPS
- Respiratory Quotient
RQ
- n.s.
not significant (P>0.05)
-
n
number of experiments 相似文献
10.
Craig W. Benkman 《Evolutionary ecology》1991,5(2):118-127
Summary I compare the relationship between bill size (depth) and body size among different taxa of seed-eating finches to test the hypothesis (Schluter, 1988a) that in habitats where seed-eating finches are vulnerable to predators, finches have larger bodies relative to their bill size. In support of this hypothesis, ground-foraging finches on continents (Emberizidae, Passeridae, Fringillidae), where predators are more common, have larger bodies relative to their bill sizes than do ground-foraging finches on islands (Emberizidae, Fringillidae). Ground-feeding finches on continents may also be more vulnerable to predators than tree- and shrub-foraging finches. As predicted, in North America, ground-feeding finches (Emberizinae) have larger bodies relative to their bill size than do tree- and shrub-foraging finches (Carduelinae). As a consequence of increased body size relative to bill size, both the range of possible bill sizes and potential seed sizes that can be eaten are reduced. Moreover, increased metabolic demands caused by larger body size may lessen the ability to specialize on a few seed types. These two factors reduce the potential for seed size partitioning. Consequently, vulnerability to predators may limit, and is inversely correlated with, seed size partitioning in seed-eating finch communities. The extent to which predation has influenced other bird communities may be considerable, and the patterns found by Schluter (1988a) and in this study indicate that future ecomorphological studies, especially on species that spend much of the day foraging, might profit by considering predator vulnerability as well as foraging behaviour. 相似文献
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G. T. H. Ellison J. D. Skinner A. Haim 《Journal of comparative physiology. B, Biochemical, systemic, and environmental physiology》1992,162(8):740-746
Summary The effect of short photoperiod and cold on metabolism and thermoregulation was investigated in pouched mice (Saccostomus campestris: Cricetidae) from three localities in southern Africa which experience contrasting climatic conditions. Mice were initially acclimated to long photoperiod (14L: 10D) at 25°C, followed first by a decline in photoperiod (to 10L: 14D) and then by a fall in temperature (to 10°C). Minimum observed metabolic rate (basal metabolic rate) was unaffected by the decline in photoperiod but increased significantly following cold acclimation. Because minimal thermal conductance remained constant throughout the study the increase in minimum observed metabolic rate caused a decline in lower critical temperature to around 26°C. In contrast to minimum observed metabolic rate, regulatory non-shivering thermogenesis improved significantly following the decline in both photoperiod and temperature. However, pouched mice from the warmest locality were significantly less responsive to photoperiod than those from the other two localities whose survival might depend upon their ability to accurately predict seasonal changes in temperature. Neither photoperiod nor temperature had any effect on body mass, yet pouched mice from the most arid locality, where food supply might be unpredictable, were significantly smaller and had lower total energy requirements than those from areas experiencing higher annual rainfall. These results indicate that S. campestris displays considerable geographical variation in energy requirements together with differences in the use of photoperiod as an anticipatory cue for predicting the onset of winter. These differences appear to be related to the availability of energy and the relative severity of climatic conditions in each locality.Abbreviations ANOVA
analysis of variance
- BMR
basal metabolic rate
-
C
m
minimal thermal conductance
-
M
b
body mass
- MOMR
minimum observed metabolic rate
- MWU
Mann-Whitney U-test
- NA
noradrenaline
- NST
non-shivering thermogenesis
- RMR
resting metabolic rate
- RQ
respiratory quotient
-
T
a
ambient temperature
-
T
b
body temperature
-
T
1c
lower critical temperature
-
oxygen consumption
-
maximum
-
following NA injection 相似文献
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Phospholipid composition and fatty acid desaturation in the roots of rye during acclimatization of low temperature 总被引:1,自引:0,他引:1
When the roots of rye plants grown at 20°C were cooled to 8°C the concentration of phospholipid in them more than doubled over a 7 d period in comparison with that in roots remaining at 20°C. The relative abundance of lecithin (PC) declined while that of phosphatidyl ethanolamine (PE) increased; this change was completed after 2 d cooling. Labelling with 32P suggested that turnover of phospholipids may be inhibited by low temperature. Acyl lipids contained an increased proportion of linolenic acid (18:3) and reduced proportion of linoleic acid (18:2) when roots were cooled at 8°C for 7 d. The ratio of these acids is a relatively more sensitive indicator of desaturation than is the double bond index. Cooling brought about no change in the abundance of the principal saturated acid, palmitic (16:0). In the first 3 days of cooling PC and PE desaturated markedly while there was no change in galactosyl and neutral lipids. Desaturation did not appear to be greatly sensitive to the concentration of dissolved O2 and was only partly inhibited in 8°C solutions where the oxygen concentration was lowered to 0.5–2.0%. Positional analysis of acyl chains in PC and PE showed that more than 90% of all 16:0 is associated with position I while 65% of the 18:2+18:3 is associated with position II. When roots are cooled the abundance of 18:3 increases in both chains but the relative distribution of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids remains constant in positions I and II. At both 20°C and 8°C there is a high probability that a saturated chain in position I will be paired with the polyunsaturated one in position II.Abbreviations PC
Lecithin
- PE
phosphatidyl ethanolamine
- TLC
thin layerchromatography
- BHT
butylatedhydroxytoluene 相似文献
13.
为探究外来植物加拿大一枝黄花(Solidago canadensis)入侵与南京市本土植物多样性的关系,该文采用踏查及样方调查对其入侵地群落的物种组成与多样性进行研究。结果表明:(1)入侵地群落中共有维管植物200种(含种下单元),隶属于62科156属,其中被子植物195种,裸子植物1种,蕨类植物4种; 数量最多的是菊科(Asteraceae)和禾本科(Poaceae)植物,分别有25种和24种; 从生活型来看,草本植物占多数,有133种,占所有种的66.50%; 此外,群落内尚有其他外来植物29种。群落中重要值最大的是加拿大一枝黄花,为40.00%; 其次是救荒野豌豆(Vicia sativa),为7.00%。(2)从植物区系看,非入侵地中植物科的区系分布型共4个,而入侵地植物科的区系类型仅有3个,其中泛热带分布、世界分布和北温带分布为两者均有,东亚和北美间断分布型仅在非入侵地中存在。非入侵地植物科的区系以世界分布型为主,有13科,占该类型群落中所有科的39.39%; 入侵地则以泛热带分布型为主,有16科,占总科数的45.71%。非入侵地中植物属的区系分布型有10个,而入侵地有12个,两者区系成分相近,旧世界热带型和热带亚洲至热带大洋洲分布型仅在入侵地中出现。北温带分布型和世界分布型同为两者中最主要成分。入侵地及非入侵地群落属的区系R/T值分别为0.58和0.38,种系分化度分别为3.29和3.11。(3)重度入侵群落的Margalef指数(E)与非入侵及轻度入侵群落相比,显著降低; 此外,重度入侵群落的Simpson指数(D)、Shannon-Weiner(H'')指数和Pielou指数(J)均显著低于非入侵、轻度入侵、中度入侵群落。(4)不同生境之间加拿大一枝黄花群落的E、D、H''和J均无显著性差异。该研究可为南京地区的加拿大一枝黄花入侵地的治理防控和生态恢复,以及进一步的科学研究提供强有力的理论支撑。 相似文献
14.
The degree of dietary fatty acid unsaturation affects torpor patterns and lipid composition of a hibernator 总被引:4,自引:2,他引:4
F. Geiser B. M. McAllan G. J. Kenagy 《Journal of comparative physiology. B, Biochemical, systemic, and environmental physiology》1994,164(4):299-305
Diets rich in unsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids have a positive effect on mammalian torpor, whereas diets rich in saturated fatty acids have a negative effect. To determine whether the number of double bonds in dietary fatty acids are responsible for these alterations in torpor patterns, we investigated the effect of adding to the normal diet 5% pure fatty acids of identical chain length (C18) but a different number of double bonds (0, 1, or 2) on the pattern of hibernation of the yellow-pine chipmunk, Eutamias amoenus. The response of torpor bouts to a lowering of air temperature and the mean duration of torpor bouts at an air temperature of 0.5°C (stearic acid C18:0, 4.5±0.8 days, oleic acid C18:1, 8.6±0.5 days; linoleic acid C18:2, 8.5±0.7 days) differed among animals that were maintained on the three experimental diets. The mean minimum body temperatures (C18:0, +2.3±0.3°C; C18:1, +0.3±0.2°C; C18:2,-0.2±0.2°C), which torpid individuals defended by an increase in metabolic rate, and the metabolic rate of torpid animals also differed among diet groups. Moreover, diet-induced differences were observed in the composition of total lipid fatty acids from depot fat and the phospholipid fatty acids of cardiac mitochondria. For depot fat 7 of 13 and for heart mitochondria 7 of 14 of the identified fatty acids differed significantly among the three diet groups. Significant differences among diet groups were also observed for the sum of saturated, unsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids. These diet-induced alterations of body fatty acids were correlated with some of the diet-induced differences in variables of torpor. The results suggest that the degree of unsaturation of dietary fatty acids influences the composition of tissues and membranes which in turn may influence torpor patterns and thus survival of hibernation.Abbreviations bm
body mass
-
T
a
air temperature
-
T
b
body temperature
- FA
fatty acid
- MR
metabolic rate
- MUFA
monounsaturated fatty acids
- PUFA
polyunsaturated fatty acids
-
VO2
rate of oxygen consumption
- SFA
saturated fatty acids
- UFA
unsaturated fatty acids
- UI
unsaturation index
- SNK
Student-Newman-Keuls test 相似文献
15.
Acid salt lakes are found in several regions of Australia but are uncommonly abundant in the Yilgarn Block area of southwestern Australia. The chemical properties of the acid salt lakes are in general similar to those of shallow ephemeral alkaline salt lakes found in adjacent regions except for having a higher hydrogen ion concentration and an absence of carbonate and bicarbonate ions. The Australian brine shrimp, Parartemia, is the major zooplankter living in these salt lakes. Present investigation on two species of larval Parartemia reveal P. zietziana nauplii having high salt tolerance (LD50 > 225 TDS) but a narrow pH range with an optimum lying near pH 8. In contrast, P. contracta collected from acid salt lakes had a more restricted salt tolerance (LD50 < 100 TDS) but a wider range of pH tolerances with substantial survival below pH 3.5. Both species, P. zietziana and contracta, when placed in ouabain-laden salines, demonstrated decreased survival and indirectly indicated the presence of a ouabain-sensitive sodium pump. Direct enzymatic assay of the sodium pump (Na, K ATPase) in nauplii of P. zietziana gave specific activity values of 2.9 µM Pi/hr/mg protein supporting our working hypothesis that the nauplii of Parartermia have an osmoregulatory system similar to that found in larval Artemia which is dependent upon having large quantities of ATP to support the sodium pump. In Artemia larvae, the production of ATP is enhanced through a facultative pathway involving an aerobic glycolysis linked C-4 dicarboxylic shunt. The major CO2 source for the C-4 acid shunt for alkaline brine shrimp has been found to be the dissolved bicarbonate/carbonate ions. In highly acidic saline lakes, these ions are missing. If acid brine shrimp are to survive in low pH ephemeral saline lakes, they must have evolved an additional proton pump and devised a mechanism to produce ATP from endogenous CO2 substrates. 相似文献
16.
Jeanneth Pérez Armando Virgen Julio Cesar Rojas Eduardo Alfonso Rebollar-Téllez Castillo Alfredo Francisco Infante Oscar Mikery Carlos Felix Marina Sergio Ibá?ez-Bernal 《Memórias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz》2014,109(1):80-86
The composition and seasonal occurrence of sandflies were investigated in coffeeagroecosystems in the Soconusco region of Chiapas, Mexico. Insect sampling wasperformed on three plantations located at different altitudes: Finca Guadalupe Zajú[1,000 m above sea level (a.s.l.)], Finca Argovia (613 m a.s.l.) and Teotihuacán delValle (429 m a.s.l.). Sandflies were sampled monthly from August 2007-July 2008 usingthree sampling methods: Shannon traps, CDC miniature light traps and Disney traps.Sampling was conducted for 3 h during three consecutive nights, beginning at sunset.A total of 4,387 sandflies were collected during the course of the study: 2,718individuals in Finca Guadalupe Zajú, 605 in Finca Argovia and 1,064 in Teotihuacándel Valle. The Shannon traps captured 94.3% of the total sandflies, while the CDClight traps and Disney traps captured 4.9% and 0.8%, respectively. More females thanmales were collected at all sites. While the number of sandflies captured waspositively correlated with temperature and relative humidity, a negative correlationwas observed between sandfly numbers and rainfall. Five species of sandflies werecaptured: Lutzomyia cruciata , Lutzomyia texana ,Lutzomyia ovallesi , Lutzomyia cratifer /undulata and Brumptomyia sp. Lu.cruciata , constituting 98.8% of the total, was the most abundantspecies. None of the captured sandflies was infected with Leishmaniaspp. 相似文献
17.
Fritz Geiser 《Oecologia》1988,77(3):395-399
Summary Season and body mass influence torpor in mammals. However, the effects of the two factors are often difficult to distinguish because body mass in many species changes with season. The present study attempted to separate seasonal and body mass related alterations of torpor. Adult female Antechinus stuartii and A. flavipes (Marsupialia), which were about half the size of males of the respective species, showed longer and deeper torpor than males. When the two species were compared, torpor in A. stuartii, the smaller species, was more pronounced than in A. flavipes. Juveniles of both species had lower body temperatures and longer torpor durations than adults. Torpor was most pronounced in juvenile males during summer; in winter, when males had grown to adult size, the use of torpor was reduced. Seasonal changes in torpor of adults were not distinct. These results suggest that the influence of body mass on torpor in these Antechinus species is stronger than that of season. 相似文献
18.
Sams Gary R. Cocchiaro Gerald F. Bell William J. 《In vitro cellular & developmental biology. Plant》1978,14(11):956-960
Summary The time course of juvenile hormone (JH) metabolism is examined in cultures ofPeriplaneta americana fat body and ovaries in medium containingManduca sexta carrier protein or cockroach hemolymph. In the absence ofM. sexta carrier protein or cockroach hemolymph, both tissues extensively catabolize exogenous [3H]JH in the medium. Addition of the carrier protein or hemolymph to the culture system prevents the hydrolysis of the hormone
in the medium. Within the tissues JH is degraded whether or not carrier protein or hemolymph is present which suggests that
the protective role of these molecules is exclusively extracellular. Incubation of [3H]JH with medium preconditioned with tissue results in destruction of the hormone. This suggests that the fat body secretes
esterases into the medium. In contrast, the ovarioles hydrolyze the hormone by means of cell-associated enzyme. The relationship
of these phenomena to insect development is discussed.
This work supported by NSF Grant PCM 76-02229 and University of Kansas Biomedical Sciences Grant RR-07037. 相似文献
19.
Although factors influencing androgen deposition in the avian egg and its effects on nestling fitness are recently receiving considerable attention, little is known about the potential costs of high testosterone levels in the females. Our study aimed at determining the effect of injections of testosterone (T) in female zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata), on clutch size, egg mass, yolk mass, and yolk androgen content. Females were given a single bolus injection of T in a range of doses after laying the first egg. Results show that administration of T negatively affected clutch size; the strength of this effect increased with increasing doses of T. Females injected with the highest testosterone dose showed suppressed oviposition of the third and the fourth eggs. Interestingly, testosterone administration made females produce eggs with relatively large yolks, suggesting that T may mediate the trade-off between number and size of eggs. Testosterone injection resulted in elevated levels of androgen in the eggs, in contrast to control clutches, which showed a decreasing pattern of androgen concentration along the laying sequence. We conclude that high androgen investment in eggs may be limited by physiological requirements of the ovulatory process. 相似文献
20.
Hood WR Oftedal OT Kunz TH 《Journal of comparative physiology. B, Biochemical, systemic, and environmental physiology》2006,176(8):807-819
Most small mammals support the nutritional requirements of milk production by increasing food intake. However, when nutrient intake is low, maternal body reserves may be mobilized to maintain adequate milk output. We examined patterns of body composition, including dry matter, fat, protein, and mineral content in big brown bats, Eptesicus fuscus, during lactation. Concentrations of fat and phosphorus were markedly lower in lactating mothers during week three of lactation than during the first two weeks, but these constituents rebounded to previous levels in the fourth and fifth week. Rapid recovery from fat depletion suggests that females are able to adjust to changes in demands for energy. The decrease in phosphorus during mid-lactation suggests bone demineralization, but an interspecific comparison of adult concentrations of minerals prevalent in bone suggests that mineral concentrations may never reach critically low levels in reproductively active females. 相似文献