Contributions of phenotypic plasticity to differences in thermogenic performance between highland and lowland deer mice.

ABSTRACT: Small mammals face especially severe thermoregulatory challenges at high altitude because the reduced O2 availability constrains the capacity for aerobic thermogenesis. Adaptive enhancement of thermogenic performance under hypoxic conditions may be achieved via physiological adjustments that occur within the lifetime of individuals (phenotypic plasticity) and/or genetically based changes that occur across generations, but their relative contributions to performance differences between highland and lowland natives are unclear. Here, we examined potentially evolved differences in thermogenic performance between populations of deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus) that are native to different altitudes. The purpose of the study was to assess the contribution of phenotypic plasticity to populatio

SUBMITTER: Cheviron ZA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3603337 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature