Caloric values of small mammals of southeastern Quebec

Abstract

A total of 164 small mammals were caught with a trapping effort of 11,002 trap-nights. The caloric value of a small mammal averaged 1.76 kcal/g; Peromyscus maniculatus (Wagner, 1845) yielded the highest value and Clethrionomys gapperi (Vigors, 1830) the lowest. The caloric value of dry weight varied from 5.27 kcal/g for Sorex cinereus (Kerr, 1792) to 5.86 kcal/g for P. maniculatus.I found monthly variations in ash contents of small mammals and correspondingly, monthly variations in the caloric values of ash-free weight. This value fluctuated from 6.54 kcal/g for S. cinereus to 7.50 kcal/g for P. maniculatus.Such high values are compared with those found in the literature.

Changes in lipid content of the montane vole

“…Some rodents seem to have evolved mechanisms which function to increase energy reserves in anticipation of recurrent stressful periods; hence they exhibit annual cycles of total body fat (S e a 1 a n d e r, , 1972Heroux, 1961, Howard, 1951Bergeron, 1976;K olodziej-Banach, 1976). In others, changes have been most pro- 1 To whom requests for reprints should be directed.…”