Differences in ingestive balance of two populations of neotropical Thrichomys apereoides (Rodentia, Echimyidae).
Thrichomys apereoides is widely distributed in the Caatinga, a semi-arid region in Brazil, but is presumed to lack capabilities for water conservation. In the present study, we compared two populations of adult individuals living under different precipitation conditions (700 and 450 mm year(-1)). Animals from the less dry area were twice as heavy as those from the drier locality. Under ad libitum water regimen, there were differences between populations in relative food intake as well as in water intake and urine concentration, but not in normalized body mass water intake. Under short-term water deprivation, both populations presented similar body mass loss. Whereas individuals from the more arid locality maintained food consumption, urine volume and urine osmolality, Thrichomys from the less dry locality reduced food consumption and urine volume. The occurrence of anuria in 75% of animals from this population indicates that the limits of their ability to deal with water shortage had been reached. The morphological and physiological difference and the non-allometric similarities found between the two populations of T. apereoides fulfill the criteria for physiological adaptations to differences in annual rainfall. Our data challenge the hypothesis that the irregularity of annual rainfall in the Caatinga precludes the evolution of adaptations to this semi-arid climate.
Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Avenida dos Bandeirantes 3900, CEP 14040-901 Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil.
Lys A
LA
Favaroni Mendes
Pedro L B
PL
Rocha
Martim F S
MF
Ribeiro
Steven F
SF
Perry
Elisabeth
E
Spinelli Oliveira
D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000818:Animals; D001002:Anuria; D001835:Body Weight; D003889:Desert Climate; D004326:Drinking / Q000502:physiology*; D004435:Eating; D012377:Rodentia / Q000502:physiology*; D014868:Water Deprivation / Q000502:physiology*