Development of homeothermic endothermy is delayed in high-altitude native deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus).

ABSTRACT: Altricial mammals begin to independently thermoregulate during the first few weeks of postnatal development. In wild rodent populations, this is also a time of high mortality (50-95%), making the physiological systems that mature during this period potential targets for selection. High altitude (HA) is a particularly challenging environment for small endotherms owing to unremitting low O₂ and ambient temperatures. While superior thermogenic capacities have been demonstrated in adults of some HA species, it is unclear if selection has occurred to survive these unique challenges early in development. We used deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus) native to high and low altitude (LA), and a strictly LA species (Peromyscus leucopus), raised under common garden conditions, to determine i

SUBMITTER: Robertson CE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6661342 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature