Seasonal variation in the resting metabolic rate of male wood mice Apodemus sylvaticus from two contrasting habitats 15 km apart |
| |
Authors: | N Corp M L Gorman J R Speakman |
| |
Institution: | (1) Culterty Field Station, University of Aberdeen, Newburgh, Ellon, Aberdeenshire AB41 6AA, Scotland, Tel.: +44-1358/789631, Fax: +44-1358/789214, GB;(2) Department of Zoology, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB9 2TN, Scotland, GB |
| |
Abstract: | Diurnal and nocturnal resting metabolic rates of winter- and summer-acclimatized adult male wood mice Apodemus sylvaticus from two adjacent populations, 15 km apart, were measured. One population lived in deciduous woodland, and experienced a
narrower daily range of temperatures than the second population, which inhabited maritime sand-dunes. Ambient temperature
and body mass had significant effects on the resting metabolism of mice, excluding winter-acclimatized sand-dune animals where
only temperature explained significant amounts of the observed variation. Only in this latter group could a thermoneutral
zone be determined, with a lower critical temperature of ca. 25 °C and resting metabolism of 0.155 W. Nocturnal resting metabolic
rates were significantly greater than diurnal levels. Winter acclimatization was associated with reductions in thermal conductance
and resting metabolism, thus minimizing energy expenditure at rest. Site differences in thermoregulatory strategies were only
found in winter, thermal conductances remained similar but mice from the sand-dunes had significantly lower metabolic rates
than those from the woodland. Winter acclimatization in wood mice was influenced by factors in addition to photoperiod. Intra-specific
and individual variations in resting metabolism, as shown in this study, potentially have a pronounced effect on the daily
energy expenditure of a free-living animal.
Accepted: 6 September 1996 |
| |
Keywords: | Seasonal acclimatization Intraspecific variation Wood mouse Apodemus sylvaticus |
本文献已被 SpringerLink 等数据库收录! |
|