Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:
http://hdl.handle.net/11375/28342
Title: | Phenotypic plasticity to chronic cold exposure in two species of Peromyscus from different environments |
Authors: | Hayward L Robertson CE McClelland GB |
Department: | Biology |
Keywords: | Animals;Peromyscus;Adaptation, Physiological;Acclimatization;Thermogenesis;Adipose Tissue, Brown;Cold Temperature |
Publication Date: | 1-Mar-2022 |
Publisher: | Springer Science and Business Media LLC |
Abstract: | Effective thermoregulation is important for mammals, particularly those that remain winter-active. Adjustments in thermoregulatory capacity in response to chronic cold can improve capacities for metabolic heat production (cold-induced maximal oxygen consumption, V ˙ O 2max), minimize rates of heat loss (thermal conductance), or both. This can be challenging for animals living in chronically colder habitats where necessary resources (i.e., food, O2) for metabolic heat production are limited. Here we used lowland native white-footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus) and highland deer mice (P. maniculatus) native to 4300 m, to test the hypothesis that small winter-active mammals have evolved distinct cold acclimation responses to tailor their thermal physiology based on the energetic demands of their environment. We found that both species increased their V ˙ O 2max after cold acclimation, associated with increases in brown adipose tissue mass and expression of uncoupling protein 1. They also broadened their thermoneutral zone to include lower ambient temperatures. This was accompanied by an increase in basal metabolic rate but only in white-footed mice, and neither species adjusted thermal conductance. Unique to highland deer mice was a mild hypothermia as ambient temperatures decreased, which reduced the gradient for heat loss, possibly to save energy in the chronically cold high alpine. These results highlight that thermal acclimation involves coordinated plasticity of numerous traits and suggest that small, winter-active mammals may adjust different aspects of their physiology in response to changing temperatures to best suit their energetic and thermoregulatory needs. |
URI: | http://hdl.handle.net/11375/28342 |
metadata.dc.identifier.doi: | https://doi.org/10.1007/s00360-021-01423-4 |
ISSN: | 0174-1578 1432-136X |
Appears in Collections: | Biology Publications |
Files in This Item:
File | Description | Size | Format | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Hayward_et_al-2022-Journal_of_Comparative_Physiology_B.pdf | Published version | 1.25 MB | Adobe PDF | View/Open |
Items in MacSphere are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.