科研之友
微信
新浪微博
Facebook
分享链接
摘要
Climate change is likely to substantially affect the distribution ranges of species. However, little is known about how different mammalian taxa respond morphologically and physiologically to a rapid change of climate. Our objective was to provide the first quantitative data on the effect of continuous cold exposure during development on morphological and functional variables of a marsupial. Fat-tailed dunnarts (Sminthopsis crassicaudata, Dasyuridae) were reared at an ambient temperature (T-a) of 16 degrees C [cold-reared (CR)] or 22 degrees C [warm-reared (WR)] until they reached adult age (%26gt;200 days). Body and head length of CR animals were significantly longer than in WR animals (mean +/- s.e.m.; body: CR 80.8+/-6. mm, WR 76.4+/-5 mm; head: CR 29.4+/-3 mm, WR 27.5+/-2 mm), but other body attributes were not significantly different. Use of torpor was more frequent, torpor bout duration was longer and average daily metabolic rate and percentage of savings when using torpor were significantly higher (P%26lt;0.01) in CR than in WR animals at 16 degrees C T-a but not at 24 degrees C. Furthermore, resting metabolic rates measured at 16 degrees C T-a were significantly lower in CR than WR animals; at 30 degrees C T-a values were similar. Our results do not conform to Allen%26apos;s rule, but to some extent they do conform to Bergmann%26apos;s rule. However, the data demonstrate that a relatively moderate cold exposure from birth until adulthood induces marked changes in the morphology and thermal energetics of small marsupials. Such short-term phenotypic responses without the need for long-term selection are likely important for the ability to cope with different climates over a wide range of distribution, but will also play a crucial role in enhancing the survival of species during climate change.
- 出版日期2012-5
