Aging and cohort dynamics in Sorex shrews

• Autorzy: Gliwicz J. , Jancewicz E.
• Języki publikacji: EN

Abstrakty

EN

In the shrews Sorex araneus Linnaeus, 1758 and S. minutus Linnaeus, 1766 a short period of fast post-natal development in the nest is followed by a longer summer period of developmental stasis and then by autumn regression. The aim of this paper has been to test whether this period of developmental stability also is accompanied by inhibited development of the eye lens - the most continuously growing organ of the mammalian body. If it is not, then can this be used as an age indicator in studies on shrews, and can it serve in distinguishing seasonal cohorts of young born in consecutive summer months? This aspect was examined on material comprising dead shrews collected from live traps and pitfalls set for rodent research in the marshy habitat of a river valley in Białowieża Forest, Poland, in 1997-1999. In fact, the eye lens in shrews was shown to increase in size continuously; therefore it may be used as a reliable age indicator. Body mass of weaned young shrews also continued to increase slowly with age until autumn. On the basis of the distribution of individuals in successive lens-mass classes, three age groups (cohorts) of young could be distinguished each season in the S. araneus popu­lation, and two in S. minutus. In the former species, consistent patterns to the relative abundance of the three seasonal cohorts were observed. The consequences of time of birth on individual fitness in Sorex shrews are discussed.

Słowa kluczowe

EN

eye lens; Sorex minutus; Sorex; shrew; seasonal cohort; Sorex araneus; aging; body mass; age determination

• Wydawca: -
• Czasopismo: Acta Theriologica
• Rocznik: 2001
• Tom: 46
• Numer: 3
• Opis fizyczny: p.225-234,fig.

Twórcy

autor

Gliwicz J.

• Agricultural University of Warsaw, Rakowiecka 26-30, 02-528 Warsaw, Poland

autor

Jancewicz E.

Bibliografia

• Churchfield S., Hollier J. and Brown V. 1995. Population dynamics and survivorship patterns in the common shrew Sorex araneus in southern England. Acta Theriologica 40: 53-68.
• Croin Michielsen N. 1966. Intraspecific and interspecific competition in the shrews Sorex araneus L. and S. minutus L. Archives Néerlandaises de Zoologie 17: 73-174.
• Croin Michielsen N. 1991. A field experiment on minimum territory size in the common shrew Sorex araneus. Netherlands Journal of Zoology 41: 85-98.
• Dehnel A. 1950. Studies on the genus Neomys Kaup. Annales Universitatis Mariae Curie-Sklodowska, Sectio C 4: 1-63. [In Polish with English and Russian summaries]
• Dehnel A. 1952. The biology of breeding of the common shrew S. araneus L. in laboratory conditions. Annales Universitatis Mariae Curie-Sklodowska, Sectio C 6: 17-102. [In Polish with English and Russian summaries]
• Falińska K. 1989. Plant population processes in the course of forest succession in abandoned meadows. Acta Societatis Botanicorum Poloniae 58: 439-465.
• Faliński J. B. 1986. Vegetation dynamics in temperate lowland primeval forests. Ecological studies in Białowieża Forest. Dr. W. Junk Publishers, Dordrecht: 1-537.
• Gliwicz J. 1996. Life history of voles: growth and maturation in seasonal cohorts of the root vole. Miscellania Zoologica 19: 1-12.
• Hagen A., Stenseth N. C., Qstbye E. and Skar H.-J. 1980. The eye lens as an age indicator in the root vole. Acta Theriologica 25: 39-50.
• Kisielewska K. 1963. Food composition and reproduction of Sorex araneus Linnaeus, 1758 in the light of parasitological research. Acta Theriologica 7: 127-153.
• Lord R. D. Jr 1959. The lens as an indicator of age in cottontailed rabbits. The Journal of Wildlife Management 23: 358-360.
• Moraleva N. V. 1989. Intraspecific interactions in the common shrew Sorex araneus in Central Siberia. Annales Zoologici Fennici 26: 425-432.
• Pucek Z. 1960. Sexual maturation and variability of the reproductive system in young shrews (Sorex L.) in the first calendar year of life. Acta Theriologica 3: 269-296.
• Pucek Z. 1965. Seasonal and age changes in the weight of internal organs of shrews. Acta Theriologica 10: 369-438.
• Pucek Z. 1970. Seasonal and age changes in shrews as an adaptive process. Symposia of the Zoological Society of London 26: 189-207.
• Pucek Z. and Lowe V. P. W. 1975. Age criteria in small mammals. [In: Small mammals: their productivity and population dynamics. F. B. Golley, K. Petrusewicz and L. Ryszkowski, eds]. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge: 55-74.
• Rychlik L. 1998. Evolution of social systems in shrews. [In: Evolution of shrews. J. M. Wójcik and M. Wolsan, eds]. Mammal Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences, Białowieża: 347-406.
• Sheftel B. I. 1989. Long-term and seasonal dynamics of shrews in central Siberia. Annales Zoologici Fennici 26: 357-369.
• Tarkowski K. 1957. Studies on reproduction and prenatal mortality of the common shrews (Sorex araneus L.). Part II. Reproduction under natural conditions. Annales Universitatis Mariae Curie-Sklodowska, Sectio C, 10: 177-244. [In Polish with English and Russian summaries]
• Vohralik V. 1988. Age determination and the population structure in Crocidura suaveolens (Mammalia: Insectivora) in Prague, Czechoslovakia. Vëstnik Ceskoslovenské Spolecnosti Zoologické 52: 63-74.