Foraging behavior of golden hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) in the wild

Larimer, Samantha C.; Fritzsche, Peter; Song, Zhimin; Johnston, Judith Meister; Neumann, Karsten; Gattermann, Rolf; McPhee, M. Elsbeth; Johnston, Robert E.

doi:10.1007/s10164-010-0255-8

Cited by 22 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 63 publications

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“…Starting from the lowest values of pPC2, the first group includes the fossorial mole-rat ( Spalax ) and bamboo rat ( Rhizomys ), the semi-fossorial hamsters ( Mesocricetus ) [25], and the gliding spiny tailed squirrel ( Anomalurus ). The second group contains fossorial gophers ( Thomomys and Geomys ), and the generalist voles ( Microtus ) , spiny mouse ( Acomys ) , and rats ( Rattus ).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Multiple Phylogenetically Distinct Events Shaped the Evolution of Limb Skeletal Morphologies Associated with Bipedalism in the Jerboas

et al. 2015

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SUMMARY Recent rapid advances in experimental biology have expanded the opportunity for interdisciplinary investigations of the evolution of form and function in non-traditional model species. However, historical divisions of philosophy and methodology between evolutionary/organismal biologists and developmental geneticists often preclude an effective merging of disciplines. In an effort to overcome these divisions, we take advantage of the extraordinary morphological diversity of the rodent superfamily Dipodoidea, including the bipedal jerboas, to experimentally study the developmental mechanisms and biomechanical performance of a remarkably divergent limb structure. Here, we place multiple limb character states in a locomotor and phylogenetic context. While obligate bipedalism arose once in the ancestor of extant jerboas, we find that digit loss, metatarsal fusion, between limb proportions, and within hindlimb proportions all evolved independently of one another. Digit loss occurred three times through at least two distinct developmental mechanisms, and elongation of the hindlimb relative to the forelimb is not simply due to growth mechanisms that change proportions within the hindlimb. Furthermore, we find strong evidence for punctuated evolution of allometric scaling of hindlimb elements during the radiation of Dipodoidea. Our work demonstrates the value of leveraging the evolutionary history of a clade to establish criteria for identifying the developmental genetic mechanisms of morphological diversification.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Multiple Phylogenetically Distinct Events Shaped the Evolution of Limb Skeletal Morphologies Associated with Bipedalism in the Jerboas

et al. 2015

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“…The preference of even pregnant and lactating females for unburned patches (although slightly weaker than for non‐reproductive females) may suggest enhanced food resources, possibly arthropods, on unburned patches (female small mammals may substantially increase their exposure to predation risk while lactating; Larimer et al. ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As an a posteriori test, stable C and N isotope data on S. mearnsi feces (collected for Bergstrom 2013) showed that d 15 N values-a possible indicator of forage quality-did not significantly differ in mice captured on burned vs. unburned patches (H = 0.87, P = 0.35) but that C:N ratios were higher on burned patches (H = 4.12, P = 0.04), indicating a greater proportion of plant material consumed there, or conversely, a greater proportion of arthropods consumed on unburned patches. The preference of even pregnant and lactating females for unburned patches (although slightly weaker than for non-reproductive females) may suggest enhanced food resources, possibly arthropods, on unburned patches (female small mammals may substantially increase their exposure to predation risk while lactating; Larimer et al 2011).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Searching for cover: soil enrichment and herbivore exclusion, not fire, enhance African savanna small‐mammal abundance

et al. 2018

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Large mammalian herbivores (LMH) are known to suppress populations of small mammals in African savanna ecosystems; whether this suppression is driven by depletion of nutrients and food resources, or of cover, is poorly understood. Cattle management creates scattered, persistent, nutrient‐enriched areas (glades). Similarly, prescribed fire may enhance forage nutrition of burned patches. Both enriched microhabitats attract wild and domestic LMH and are fertilized by their wastes, but removal of vegetative cover by LMH or fire may negate the benefits of enhanced nutrition to risk‐averse small‐mammal species or individuals. We used replicated LMH exclusion experiments on red sandy loam and black‐cotton clay soils, and a multi‐scale burn experiment on black cotton to examine abundance, diversity, and biomass of small mammals across sites varying in vegetation cover and enrichment. Small‐mammal species composition varied dramatically among habitats. Species diversity and density on red sands were roughly double that of black cotton soils. Small‐mammal densities and diversity were dramatically greater inside LMH exclosures; maximal densities occurred inside fenced, nutrient‐rich, tall‐grass glades. Small‐mammal density was similar between black‐cotton burn sites and unburned matrix habitat but was significantly greater on unburned than burned patches within the burn sites. Burned patches contained less grassy cover up to 50 months post‐burn, although vegetation differences diminished following significant rains. Mice captured on burned patches traveled farther but were not heavier than mice captured on unburned patches. Small mammals were nearly 20‐fold more abundant on totally fenced glades than matrix habitat on both soils and ninefold more abundant on fenced bushland (non‐glades) on red sands. Unfenced glades supported intermediate densities in black cotton but lower densities in red sands because of close cropping by LMH. Total small‐mammal biomass tended to be greater on red sands (though mean body mass was greater on black cotton for two common species), within exclosures, and on glades. Both the grass rat and pouched mouse reached maximal densities within glade LMH exclosures on both soils. This and the positive association of small‐mammal densities with grass height and dead‐stem density suggest loss of cover is a primary driver of large‐herbivore suppression of certain savanna small mammals.

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“…According to mammalian bioenergetics models, as these nutritional demands increase, individuals must (1) increase energy and nutrient intake, (2) decrease metabolic consumption of energy and nutrients, and/or (3) increase energy and nutrient assimilation effi ciency to compensate (McNab 2002 ;Peles and Barrett 2008 ). Although a large number of mammalian studies have investigated changes in diet and activity in response to growth and reproduction (e.g., Mellado et al 2005 ;Chilvers and Wilkinson 2009 ;Larimer et al 2011 ), few explore differences in assimilation or digestive effi ciency (Hammond and Kristan 2000 ;Jaroszewska and Wilczynska 2006 ). However, changing digestive effi ciency in response to growth and reproduction is likely to be an important mechanism for meeting increased nutritional demands, especially in cases where diet and/or activity are constrained.…”

Section: Integrating the Gut Microbiota Into Mammalian Bioenergetics mentioning

confidence: 99%

The Howler Monkey as a Model for Exploring Host-Gut Microbiota Interactions in Primates

Amato

Righini

2014

Howler Monkeys

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The mammalian gut microbiota is essential to many aspects of host physiology, including nutrition, metabolic activity, and immune homeostasis. Despite the existence of numerous studies of the impact of the gut microbiota on human health and disease, much work remains to be done to improve our understanding of the host-microbe relationship in nonhuman primates. Howler monkeys ( Alouatta spp.) are highly dependent on the gut microbiota for the breakdown of plant structural carbohydrates, and in this chapter we use new data describing the gut microbiome of captive and wild black howler monkeys ( A. pigra ) to develop and test two models of host-microbe interactions and bioenergetics. Improving our understanding of how spatial and temporal fl uctuations in diet affect the nonhuman primate gut microbiota, and how this in turn infl uences host nutrition and physiology, has important implications for the study of the role that the gut microbiota plays in primate ecology, health, and conservation.Resumen El papel de la microbiota intestinal es fundamental para muchos aspectos de la fi siología de los mamíferos, incluyendo la nutrición, la actividad metabólica y la homeostasis del sistema inmune. A pesar de la existencia de muchos estudios acerca de la microbiota intestinal humana debido a sus implicaciones para la salud, aún queda mucho por hacer para poder entender la relación huésped-microorganismos en primates no humanos. Los monos aulladores ( Alouatta spp.) dependen de manera importante de los microbios intestinales para la digestión de los carbohidratos estructurales de las plantas. En este capítulo utilizamos nuevos datos sobre la composición de la microbiota de monos aulladores negros cautivos y silvestres ( A. pigra ) para desarrollar y poner a prueba dos modelos sobre las interacciones

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Foraging behavior of golden hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) in the wild

Cited by 22 publications

References 63 publications

Multiple Phylogenetically Distinct Events Shaped the Evolution of Limb Skeletal Morphologies Associated with Bipedalism in the Jerboas

Multiple Phylogenetically Distinct Events Shaped the Evolution of Limb Skeletal Morphologies Associated with Bipedalism in the Jerboas

Searching for cover: soil enrichment and herbivore exclusion, not fire, enhance African savanna small‐mammal abundance

The Howler Monkey as a Model for Exploring Host-Gut Microbiota Interactions in Primates

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