Implications of being born late in the active season for growth, fattening, torpor use, winter survival and fecundity
For hibernators, being born late in the active season may have important effects on growth and fattening, hence on winter survival and reproduction. This study investigated differences in growth, fattening, energetic responses, winter survival and fecundity between early-born (‘EB’) and late-born (‘...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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eLife Sciences Publications Ltd
2018-02-01
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| Series: | eLife |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://elifesciences.org/articles/31225 |
| _version_ | 1811180397268041728 |
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| author | Britta Mahlert Hanno Gerritsmann Gabrielle Stalder Thomas Ruf Alexandre Zahariev Stéphane Blanc Sylvain Giroud |
| author_facet | Britta Mahlert Hanno Gerritsmann Gabrielle Stalder Thomas Ruf Alexandre Zahariev Stéphane Blanc Sylvain Giroud |
| author_sort | Britta Mahlert |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | For hibernators, being born late in the active season may have important effects on growth and fattening, hence on winter survival and reproduction. This study investigated differences in growth, fattening, energetic responses, winter survival and fecundity between early-born (‘EB’) and late-born (‘LB’) juvenile garden dormice (Eliomys quercinus). LB juveniles grew and gained mass twice as fast as EB individuals. Torpor use was low during intensive growth, that are, first weeks of body mass gain, but increased during pre-hibernation fattening. LB juveniles showed higher torpor use, reached similar body sizes but lower fat content than EB individuals before hibernation. Finally, LB individuals showed similar patterns of hibernation, but higher proportion of breeders during the following year than EB dormice. These results suggest that torpor is incompatible with growth but promotes fattening and consolidates pre-hibernation fat depots. In garden dormice, being born late in the reproductive season is associated with a fast life history. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T09:01:26Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-2a58d8307d634bae946285b058776315 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2050-084X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T09:01:26Z |
| publishDate | 2018-02-01 |
| publisher | eLife Sciences Publications Ltd |
| record_format | Article |
| series | eLife |
| spelling | doaj.art-2a58d8307d634bae946285b0587763152022-12-22T04:32:45ZengeLife Sciences Publications LtdeLife2050-084X2018-02-01710.7554/eLife.31225Implications of being born late in the active season for growth, fattening, torpor use, winter survival and fecundityBritta Mahlert0https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6598-9129Hanno Gerritsmann1Gabrielle Stalder2Thomas Ruf3Alexandre Zahariev4Stéphane Blanc5Sylvain Giroud6https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6621-7462Department of Integrative Biology and Evolution, Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, AustriaDepartment of Integrative Biology and Evolution, Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, AustriaDepartment of Integrative Biology and Evolution, Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, AustriaDepartment of Integrative Biology and Evolution, Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, AustriaUniversité de Strasbourg, IPHC, Strasbourg, France; CNRS, UMR7178, Strasbourg, FranceDepartment of Integrative Biology and Evolution, Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria; Université de Strasbourg, IPHC, Strasbourg, France; CNRS, UMR7178, Strasbourg, FranceDepartment of Integrative Biology and Evolution, Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, AustriaFor hibernators, being born late in the active season may have important effects on growth and fattening, hence on winter survival and reproduction. This study investigated differences in growth, fattening, energetic responses, winter survival and fecundity between early-born (‘EB’) and late-born (‘LB’) juvenile garden dormice (Eliomys quercinus). LB juveniles grew and gained mass twice as fast as EB individuals. Torpor use was low during intensive growth, that are, first weeks of body mass gain, but increased during pre-hibernation fattening. LB juveniles showed higher torpor use, reached similar body sizes but lower fat content than EB individuals before hibernation. Finally, LB individuals showed similar patterns of hibernation, but higher proportion of breeders during the following year than EB dormice. These results suggest that torpor is incompatible with growth but promotes fattening and consolidates pre-hibernation fat depots. In garden dormice, being born late in the reproductive season is associated with a fast life history.https://elifesciences.org/articles/31225garden dormicejuvenileshibernationdoubly-labelled waterfat reserveslife history |
| spellingShingle | Britta Mahlert Hanno Gerritsmann Gabrielle Stalder Thomas Ruf Alexandre Zahariev Stéphane Blanc Sylvain Giroud Implications of being born late in the active season for growth, fattening, torpor use, winter survival and fecundity eLife garden dormice juveniles hibernation doubly-labelled water fat reserves life history |
| title | Implications of being born late in the active season for growth, fattening, torpor use, winter survival and fecundity |
| title_full | Implications of being born late in the active season for growth, fattening, torpor use, winter survival and fecundity |
| title_fullStr | Implications of being born late in the active season for growth, fattening, torpor use, winter survival and fecundity |
| title_full_unstemmed | Implications of being born late in the active season for growth, fattening, torpor use, winter survival and fecundity |
| title_short | Implications of being born late in the active season for growth, fattening, torpor use, winter survival and fecundity |
| title_sort | implications of being born late in the active season for growth fattening torpor use winter survival and fecundity |
| topic | garden dormice juveniles hibernation doubly-labelled water fat reserves life history |
| url | https://elifesciences.org/articles/31225 |
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