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The effect of seasonal food restriction on activity, metabolism and torpor in the South African hedgehog (Atelerix frontalis)
Author(s) -
Gillies A. C.,
Ellison G. T. H.,
Skinner J. D.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
journal of zoology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.915
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1469-7998
pISSN - 0952-8369
DOI - 10.1111/j.1469-7998.1991.tb04753.x
Subject(s) - torpor , biology , zoology , muridae , body weight , food intake , phascolarctos cinereus , hedgehog , seasonal breeder , energetics , ecology , endocrinology , thermoregulation , demography , population , sociology , biochemistry , gene
Twelve South African hedgehogs (Atelerix frontalis) were subjected to nine‐week experimental protocol comprising four weeks of simulated summer conditions (14L: 10D and 25 °C), and transition week followed by four weeks of simulated winter conditions (10L: 14D and 15 °C). Six control hedgehogs, with access to food ad libitum throughout the experiment, did not increase their energy intake during winter yet retained stable body mass. Six experimental hedgehogs, of similar body size, experienced restricted diet during the last three weeks of each season. These hedgehogs displayed significantly lower energy intake than controls during food restriction and lost approximately 7% of their body weight in both seasons, although this weight loss was not significant. Both groups displayed lower digestive efficiencies in winter, together with decline in activity. However, there remained no significant effect of food restriction on these parameters. Neither control nor experimental hedgehogs displayed torpor during summer and, whilst both groups became torpid in winter, the duration of torpor was significantly longer in experimental hedgehogs following food restriction. Analysis of fluctuations in body mass suggest that experimental hedgehogs supplemented their restricted diet with energy derived from body reserves during both seasons. However, the ability of this species to modify the duration of torpor in response to additional energetic stress indicates that A. frontalis can control its energetic expenditure in order to limit the depletion of body reserves.