Seasonal pelage variation in the masked shrew Sorex cinereus: a demographic perspective

• Autorzy: Rinehart-Whitt S. C. , Pagels J.F.
• Języki publikacji: EN

Abstrakty

EN

Pelage characteristics of the masked shrew Sorex cinereus Kerr, 1792, were studied with emphasis on season, age and gender to determine the relationship of fur to life history characteristics. A total of 140 shrews was collected from 1985-1989 at five montane sites in Virginia. Hair length (mm) and hair density (no. of hairs/mg fat-free skin) were measured to identify the extent of pelage variation. Shrews caught in winter had significantly longer (4.4 mm) and more dense (8100 hairs/mg) hair than shrews caught in summer (3.6 mm and 7767 hairs/mg, respectively). Age class had a significant effect on hair density in summer; immature shrews (age class I) had the greatest median hair densities (7985 hairs/mg) of any age class. Old adults (age class IV) had the lowest hair density during both summer and winter, possibly reflecting an old-age molt. Females had significantly higher hair densities (8301 hairs/mg) than males (7509 hairs/mg) during summer. Due to the lower energy costs of morphological adjustments compared to physiological changes, alteration of pelage in S. cinereus may be an important mechanism to decrease total energy demands as has been described in many other small mammals.

Słowa kluczowe

EN

Sorex cinereus; shrew; pelage variation; cold environment; seasonal variation; heat loss

• Wydawca: -
• Czasopismo: Acta Theriologica
• Rocznik: 2000
• Tom: 45
• Numer: 1
• Opis fizyczny: p.111-116

Twórcy

autor

Rinehart-Whitt S. C.

• Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA 23284-2012

autor

Pagels J.F.

Bibliografia

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