Flood-induced multiday torpor in golden spiny mice (Acomys russatus)
Orly Barak A , Fritz Geiser
A B and Noga Kronfeld-Schor A C
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A School of Zoology, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel.
B Centre for Behavioural and Physiological Ecology, Zoology, University of New England, Armidale, NSW 2351, Australia.
C Corresponding author. Email: nogaks@tauex.tau.ac.il
Australian Journal of Zoology 66(6) 401-405 https://doi.org/10.1071/ZO19061
Submitted: 26 September 2019 Accepted: 5 December 2019 Published: 24 December 2019
Abstract
Mammalian and avian torpor is widely viewed as an adaptation for survival of cold winters. However, in recent years it has been established that torpor can also be expressed in summer and that the functions of torpor are manyfold, including survival of adverse environmental events such as fires, storms, heat waves and droughts. Here we provide the first evidence on (1) torpor induction via an accidental flooding event in mammals (in captivity) and (2) expression of multiday torpor by spiny mice, lasting >7 times as long as usually observed for this desert rodent. Our data suggest yet another function of mammalian torpor, as a response to flood, in addition to many other adverse environmental events, and not just in response to cold.
Additional keywords: desert.
References
Boyer, B. B., and Barnes, B. M. (1999). Molecular and metabolic aspects of mammalian hibernation. Bioscience 49, 713–724.| Molecular and metabolic aspects of mammalian hibernation.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Dausmann, K. H., and Warnecke, L. (2016). Primate torpor: ghost of the climatic past. Physiology 31, 398–408.
| Primate torpor: ghost of the climatic past.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 27708046PubMed |
Dawson, T. J., and Fanning, D. (1981). Thermal and energetic problems of semiaquatic mammals: a study of the Australian water rat, including comparisons with the platypus. Physiological Zoology 54, 285–296.
| Thermal and energetic problems of semiaquatic mammals: a study of the Australian water rat, including comparisons with the platypus.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Geiser, F., Currie, S. E., O’Shea, K. A., and Hiebert, S. M. (2014). Torpor and hypothermia: reversed hysteresis of metabolic rate and body temperature. American Journal of Physiology. Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology 307, R1324–R1329.
| Torpor and hypothermia: reversed hysteresis of metabolic rate and body temperature.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 25253085PubMed |
Gutman, R., Choshniak, I., and Kronfeld-Schor, N. (2006). Defending body mass during food restriction in Acomys russatus: a desert rodent that does not store food. American Journal of Physiology. Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology 290, R881–R891.
| Defending body mass during food restriction in Acomys russatus: a desert rodent that does not store food.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 16284091PubMed |
Haim, A., and Borut, A. (1975). Size and activity of a cold resistant population of the golden spiny mouse (Acomys russatus: Muridae). Mammalia 39, 605–612.
| Size and activity of a cold resistant population of the golden spiny mouse (Acomys russatus: Muridae).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1225672PubMed |
Holloway, J. C., and Geiser, F. (2001). Effects of helium/oxygen and temperature on aerobic metabolism in the marsupial sugar glider, Petaurus breviceps. Physiological and Biochemical Zoology 74, 219–225.
| Effects of helium/oxygen and temperature on aerobic metabolism in the marsupial sugar glider, Petaurus breviceps.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 11247741PubMed |
Kronfeld-Schor, N., and Dayan, T. (2013). Thermal ecology, environments, communities, and global change: energy intake and expenditure in endotherms. Annual Review of Ecology, Evolution, and Systematics 44, 461–480.
| Thermal ecology, environments, communities, and global change: energy intake and expenditure in endotherms.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Lasiewski, R. C., and Lasiewski, R. J. (1967). Physiological responses of the blue-throated and Rivoli’s hummingbirds. The Auk 84, 34–48.
| Physiological responses of the blue-throated and Rivoli’s hummingbirds.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Levy, O., Dayan, T., and Kronfeld-Schor, N. (2007). The relationship between the golden spiny mouse circadian system and its diurnal activity: an experimental field enclosures and laboratory study. Chronobiology International 24, 599–613.
| The relationship between the golden spiny mouse circadian system and its diurnal activity: an experimental field enclosures and laboratory study.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 17701675PubMed |
Levy, O., Dayan, T., and Kronfeld-Schor, N. (2011). Adaptive thermoregulation in golden spiny mice: the influence of season and food availability on body temperature. Physiological and Biochemical Zoology 84, 175–184.
| Adaptive thermoregulation in golden spiny mice: the influence of season and food availability on body temperature.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 21460528PubMed |
Levy, O., Dayan, T., Rotics, S., and Kronfeld-Schor, N. (2012a). Foraging sequence, energy intake and torpor: an individual-based field study of energy balancing in desert golden spiny mice. Ecology Letters 15, 1240–1248.
| Foraging sequence, energy intake and torpor: an individual-based field study of energy balancing in desert golden spiny mice.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 22906198PubMed |
Levy, O, Dayan, T, Kronfeld-Schor, N, and Porter, W. P. (2012b). Biophysical modeling of the temporal niche: from first principles to the evolution of activity patterns. American Naturalist 179, 794–804.
| 22617266PubMed |
Lincoln, F. C., and Peterson, S. R. (1979). ‘Migration of Birds.’ (Fish & Wildlife Service, US Department of the Interior.)
Maddocks, T. A., and Geiser, F. (2007). Heterothermy in an Australian passerine, the dusky woodswallow (Artamus cyanopterus). Journal of Ornithology 148, 571–577.
| Heterothermy in an Australian passerine, the dusky woodswallow (Artamus cyanopterus).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
McKechnie, A. E., and Mzilikazi, N. (2011). Heterothermy in Afrotropical mammals and birds: a review. Integrative and Comparative Biology 51, 349–363.
| Heterothermy in Afrotropical mammals and birds: a review.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 21705792PubMed |
Morrow, G., and Nicol, S. C. (2009). Cool sex? Hibernation and reproduction overlap in the echidna. PLoS ONE 4, e6070.
| Cool sex? Hibernation and reproduction overlap in the echidna.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 19562080PubMed |
National Research Council Committee for the Update of the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (2011). ‘Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals.’ (National Academies Press: Washington, DC.)
Nowack, J., Stawski, C., and Geiser, F. (2017). More functions of torpor and their roles in a changing world. Journal of Comparative Physiology. B, Biochemical, Systemic, and Environmental Physiology 187, 889–897.
| More functions of torpor and their roles in a changing world.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 28432393PubMed |
Ruf, T., and Geiser, F. (2015). Daily torpor and hibernation in birds and mammals. Biological Reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society 90, 891–926.
| Daily torpor and hibernation in birds and mammals.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 25123049PubMed |
Shargal, E., Kronfeld-Schor, N., and Dayan, T. (2000). Population biology and spatial relationships of coexisting spiny mice (Acomys) in Israel. Journal of Mammalogy 81, 1046–1052.
| Population biology and spatial relationships of coexisting spiny mice (Acomys) in Israel.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Shkolnik, A., and Borut, A. (1969). Temperature and water relations in two species of spiny mice (Acomys). Journal of Mammalogy 50, 245–255.
| Temperature and water relations in two species of spiny mice (Acomys).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Stawski, C., Körtner, G., Nowack, J., and Geiser, F. (2015). The importance of mammalian torpor for survival in a post-fire landscape. Biology Letters 11, 20150134.
| The importance of mammalian torpor for survival in a post-fire landscape.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 26063748PubMed |
Thomas, D. W., Pacheco, M. A., Fournier, F, and Fortin, D (1998). Validation of the effect of helox on thermal conductance in homeotherms using heated models. Journal of Thermal Biology 23, 377–380.
| Validation of the effect of helox on thermal conductance in homeotherms using heated models.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Vuarin, P., Dammhahn, M., and Henry, P.-Y. (2013). Individual flexibility in energy saving: body size and condition constrain torpor use. Functional Ecology 27, 793–799.
| Individual flexibility in energy saving: body size and condition constrain torpor use.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Wang, L. C. H., and Peter, R. E. (1975). Metabolic and respiratory responses during Helox-induced hypothermia in the white rat. The American Journal of Physiology 229, 890–895.
| Metabolic and respiratory responses during Helox-induced hypothermia in the white rat.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Withers, P. C., Cooper, C. E., Maloney, S. K., Bozinovic, F., and Cruz-Neto, A. P. (2016). ‘Ecological and Environmental Physiology of Mammals.’ (Oxford University Press: Oxford.)
