title: Daily rhythms of body temperature and heat production of sibling Mastomys species from different ecosystems--the response to photoperiod manipulations.
abstract: We compared body temperature (T(b)) and metabolic rates, measured as oxygen consumption (VO(2)), daily rhythms of two sibling species of the genus Mastomys. We also studied their responses to long day (16L: 8D, LD) and short day (8L: 16D, SD) photoperiod manipulations at a constant ambient temperature of 26+1 degrees C. We noted significant differences in T(b) and VO(2) daily rhythm patterns, under SD and LD-acclimation between the sibling species. These differences explain adaptation to the climatic conditions that prevail in the different ecosystems where these species live. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that physiological differences between the two siblings are measured by using chronobiological methods.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Biology, Evolutionary and Environmental Biology, University of Haifa, Mount Carmel, Haifa 31905, Israel. ahaim@research.haifa.ac.il
authors.forename: Abraham
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Haim
authors.forename: Abed Elsalam
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Zubidat
authors.forename: Rudi J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: van Aarde
mesh_terms: D000064:Acclimatization; D000818:Animals; D001833:Body Temperature Regulation / Q000502:physiology* / Q000528:radiation effects; D001835:Body Weight; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000502:physiology* / Q000528:radiation effects; D017753:Ecosystem; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D008027:Light; D051189:Murinae / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000145:classification / Q000502:physiology*; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects; D017440:Photoperiod; D013019:South Africa; D013045:Species Specificity