Fat levels in a subarctic population of Peromyscus maniculatus
Fat content (FAT), lean dry weight (LDW), and caloric content (KCAL) were examined in a natural subarctic population of Peromyscus maniculatus. FAT was not significantly correlated with size (LDW) of the animal. FAT of adult males was negatively correlated with minimum ambient temperatures and was n...
| Published in: | Canadian Journal of Zoology |
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| Main Authors: | , |
| Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Canadian Science Publishing
1980
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z80-186 http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/z80-186 |
| Summary: | Fat content (FAT), lean dry weight (LDW), and caloric content (KCAL) were examined in a natural subarctic population of Peromyscus maniculatus. FAT was not significantly correlated with size (LDW) of the animal. FAT of adult males was negatively correlated with minimum ambient temperatures and was not correlated with reproductive condition. LDW of adult males did not vary in relation to season. FAT of prebreeding adult females was high and decreased in response to breeding, but LDW increased in response to breeding so that KCAL remained constant. KCAL was low in adult females only after the breeding season. Mice dying in live traps had significantly lower FAT than did any other group of adults indicating that wild mice do not normally deplete their fat reserves. KCAL of postweaning young increased with age due to an increase in LDW but not in FAT. We suggest that fat levels are intrinsically controlled in wild Peromyscus according to the probability of having to make extraordinary energy expenditures and are not simply subject to extrinsic controls through the balance of food availability and energy demands. |
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