Document Detail


Hibernation and circannual rhythms of food consumption in marmots and ground squirrels.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  799318     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
In order to understand better the evolution and adaptive value of hibernation, ecological aspects and experimental studies of closely related hibernators, the Marmotini, are examined. The central hypothesis is that annual changes in the environment integrate three or, perhaps, four physiological processes: torpor, reporduction, consumption of food, and metabolism. Reproduction occurs promptly after emergence from hibernation. For most species, the breeding season is very short. Although the experimental data are rather meager, no variation in external factors has consistently altered the season of reproduction. Consumption of food and change in weight increases until July or September and then decreases. The large members of the Marmotini store their energy as fat, but small species store their energy as seeds and nuts. Experiments to test the hypothesis that some aspect of the supply, such as fat content, might vary seasonally have produced negative results. Complex experiments on the length of the photoperiod on woodchucks and several species of ground squirrels failed to alter the annual cycle of consumption of food. Animals kept in constant conditions showed a cycle of about 11 months, but woodchucks sent tto Australia changed their cycle in two years to match the seasons of the southern hemisphere. Experiments with temperature and torpor and castration did not alter the annual did not alter the rhythm...
Authors:
D E Davis
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.; Review    
Journal Detail:
Title:  The Quarterly review of biology     Volume:  51     ISSN:  0033-5770     ISO Abbreviation:  Q Rev Biol     Publication Date:  1976 Dec 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  1977-05-27     Completed Date:  1977-05-27     Revised Date:  2006-11-15    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  0376515     Medline TA:  Q Rev Biol     Country:  UNITED STATES    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  477-514     Citation Subset:  IM    
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Adipose Tissue / metabolism
Age Factors
Animals
Biological Clocks
Body Weight
Castration
Ecology
Energy Metabolism
Evolution
Feeding Behavior / physiology*
Female
Food
Hibernation*
Hypothalamus / physiology
Light
Litter Size
Longevity
Male
Marmota / metabolism,  physiology*
Periodicity*
Pregnancy
Reproduction
Rodentia / physiology*
Sciuridae / metabolism,  physiology*
Seasons*
Species Specificity
Temperature

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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