Temperature and Water Relations in Two Species of Spiny Mice (Acomys)

Shkolnik, Amiram; Borut, Arieh

doi:10.2307/1378340

Cited by 134 publications

(68 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…In addition, A. russatus appeared more tolerant to O. baccatus diets in terms of defending body mass when feeding on the mash diet, which contained the toxic components of the mustard oil bomb. This result is consistent with other studies showing the ability of A. russatus to maintain body mass under various conditions (Shkolnik and Borut, 1969;Kam and Degen, 1993;Gutman et al, 2006). Physiologically, the unique adaptive mechanisms of the diurnal A. russatus for desert survival (Haim and Borut, 1981;Haim et al, 1994;Haim et al, 2005;Ehrhardt et al, 2005;Levy et al, 2011) may also explain their low variability under the different treatments across various examined parameters.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Physiological and behavioural effects of fruit toxins on seed-predating versus seed-dispersing congeneric rodents

Samuni-Blank

Izhaki

Dearing

et al. 2013

Journal of Experimental Biology

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SUMMARYFleshy, ripe fruits attract seed dispersers but also seed predators. Although many fruit consumers (legitimate seed dispersers as well as seed predators) are clearly exposed to plant secondary compounds (PSCs), their impact on the consumers' physiology and foraging behaviour has been largely overlooked. Here, we document the divergent behavioural and physiological responses to fruit consumption of three congeneric rodent species in the Middle East, representing both seed dispersers and seed predators. The fruit pulp of the desert plant Ochradenus baccatus contains high concentrations of glucosinolates (GLSs). These GLSs are hydrolyzed into active toxic compounds upon contact with the myrosinase enzyme released from seeds crushed during fruit consumption. Acomys russatus and A. cahirinus share a desert habitat. Acomys russatus acts as an O. baccatus seed predator, and A. cahirinus circumvents the activation of the GLSs by orally expelling vital seeds. We found that between the three species examined, A. russatus was physiologically most tolerant to whole fruit consumption and even A. minous, which is evolutionarily naïve to O. baccatus, exhibits greater tolerance to whole fruit consumption than A. cahirinus. However, like A. cahirinus, A. minous may also behaviourally avoid the activation of the GLSs by making a hole in the pulp and consuming only the seeds. Our findings demonstrate that seed predators have a higher physiological tolerance than seed dispersers when consuming fruits containing toxic PSCs. The findings also demonstrate the extreme ecological/evolutionary lability of this plant-animal symbiosis to shift from predation to mutualism and vice versa.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Physiological and behavioural effects of fruit toxins on seed-predating versus seed-dispersing congeneric rodents

Samuni-Blank

Izhaki

Dearing

et al. 2013

Journal of Experimental Biology

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“…The common spiny mouse (Acomys cahirinus) and the golden spiny mouse (A. russatus) coexist in rocky habitats (Kronfeld-Schor et al 2001a;Shkolnik 1966Shkolnik , 1971 where they overlap in microhabitat use, home ranges, food habits, and reproductive period (Kronfeld et al 1994(Kronfeld et al , 1996Kronfeld-Schor & Dayan 1999;Shargal et al 2000). These species have attracted attention (e.g., Fluxman & Haim 1993;Haim & Borut 1981;Shkolnik 1971;Shkolnik & Borut 1969;Zisapel et al 1998Zisapel et al , 1999 owing to their unique temporal activity patterns: The common spiny mouse is active during the night, as are most desert rodents, whereas the golden spiny mouse is active during the day. Shkolnik (1966Shkolnik ( , 1971 repeatedly trapped all individual A. cahirinus from a joint habitat, a rock pile, and after several months he began to trap A. russatus individuals during the night.…”

Section: Activity Patternsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…During the day A. russatus avoid the heat behaviorally by remaining in the shade (Kronfeld-Schor et al 2001b, Shkolnik 1971, reducing mid-day activity (Kronfeld-Schor et al 2001a), and/or using evaporative cooling, which uses water, a scarce resource in the desert. Nevertheless, A. russatus has low water requirements owing to their ability to reduce water loss in the feces (Kam & Degen 1993) and to produce highly concentrated urine (Shkolnik 1966, Shkolnik & Borut 1969.…”

Section: Anatomical Behavioral/ecological and Physiological Adaptatmentioning

confidence: 99%

Partitioning of Time as an Ecological Resource

Kronfeld‐Schor

Dayan

2003

Annu. Rev. Ecol. Evol. Syst.

773

684

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s Abstract Animal species have evolved different diel activity rhythms that are of adaptive value. Theory suggests that diel temporal partitioning may facilitate coexistence between competitors and between predators and prey. However, relatively few studies demonstrate a temporal shift that is predation-or competition-induced. Recorded shifts are usually within the preferred activity phase of animal species (day or night), although there are some inversions to the opposite phase cycle. Temporal partitioning is not perceived as a common mechanism of coexistence. This rarity has been variously ascribed to theoretical considerations and to the rigidity of time-keeping mechanisms, as well as to other physiological and anatomical traits that may constrain activity patterns. Our decade-long study of spiny mice of rocky deserts demonstrates that, while different factors select for activity patterns, endogenous rhythmicity may be an evolutionary constraint.

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“…Temperature was also measured on crabs which were kept in clear PVC wire cages (10 cm diameter, 5 cm height) and exposed to solar radiation, as well as in crabs protected from direct solar radiation, but exposed to air temperature, outside the shelter. In the laboratory, temperature was measured in an open flow system (Shkolnik & Borot 1969). Air flowing at 150 cm3 min-' was dried on a silca gel column and then passed through glass tube spirals to a glass cylinder containing the crabs.…”

Section: Animalsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Adaptation of Coenobita scaevola (Forskal) (Crustacea, Anemura) to terrestrial life in desert-bordered shore line

Achituv¹,

Ziskind²

1985

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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Coenobita scaevola (Forskal) is a terrestrial hermit crab inhabiting shores of the S~n a i Peninsula, where animals encounter severe conditions of high temperature, high radiation and low relative humidity. Adaptation of these crabs to such arid conditions was studied. The crabs are nocturnally active, taking refuge during the day in hiding places with milder conditions. Body temperature follows that of their hiding places, which is lower than that of the air. After ca 6 h exposure to direct radiation, the crabs die. Thermoregulatory abil~ty is low. Water loss is lower In shelled crabs, higher in crabs without shell; the shell protects the abdomen from desiccation. Freshly killed crabs evaporate less than live crabs, suggesting that evaporation from live crabs is not a purely passive process. Gill surface area is small in comparison with aquatic crabs. Aquatic oxygen consumption is 1.4 times higher than aerial. Unlike other Coenobita spp. which inhabit sites distant from the sea, and in spite of successful adaptation to terrestrial life, Coenobita scaevola does not penetrate far inland: In desert conditions it depends on the sea for its only water source.

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Temperature and Water Relations in Two Species of Spiny Mice (Acomys)

Cited by 134 publications

References 14 publications

Physiological and behavioural effects of fruit toxins on seed-predating versus seed-dispersing congeneric rodents

Physiological and behavioural effects of fruit toxins on seed-predating versus seed-dispersing congeneric rodents

Partitioning of Time as an Ecological Resource

Adaptation of Coenobita scaevola (Forskal) (Crustacea, Anemura) to terrestrial life in desert-bordered shore line

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