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1 April 2009 Effect of Food Availability on Immune Function of Gray Red-Backed Voles (Myodes rufocanus) Exposed to Low Temperature and Short Photoperiod
Kaori Kusumoto
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Abstract

The effects of food availability on immune function of gray red-backed voles (Myodes rufocanus) exposed to low temperature (5°C) were examined under a short photoperiod (10L:14D). Twenty-seven voles, caught in the wild, were evenly divided into 3 groups adjusted for sample size, body mass, and sex ratio. Among the 3 food-manipulation groups (food control, food addition, and food restriction), the food-added group displayed enhanced immune response. In contrast, the food-restricted group displayed weakened immune response and the lowest body mass. Kidneys, hearts, and livers of food-restricted voles were significantly hypertrophied in comparison with food-control voles and food-added voles. Therefore, food limitation (quality and quantity) may cause a reduction in immune function and body mass at low temperature on short photoperiods because of maximum expenditure of acquired resources for thermoregulation and maintenance of body condition and, consequently, may induce higher mortality during cold and long winters.

Kaori Kusumoto "Effect of Food Availability on Immune Function of Gray Red-Backed Voles (Myodes rufocanus) Exposed to Low Temperature and Short Photoperiod," Journal of Mammalogy 90(2), 416-422, (1 April 2009). https://doi.org/10.1644/08-MAMM-A-139.1
Received: 29 April 2008; Accepted: 1 September 2008; Published: 1 April 2009
KEYWORDS
gray red-backed vole
immune response
Myodes rufocanus
nutrition
resource limitation
short day length
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