Fifty years of data show the effects of climate on overall skull size and the extent of seasonal reversible skull size changes (Dehnel's phenomenon) in the common shrew

The population dynamics of shrews (Soricidae) are not well known even though they form an important part of forest ecosystems and represent suitable bioindicators of ecosystem quality. The aim of this study was to evaluate the population dynamics of shrews in mountain and upland forest clearings in four study areas within the Czech Republic and to reveal how climatic factors influenced fluctuations in their abundance for a decade (2007–2017). In total, we trapped 7,538 individuals of 18 small mammal species. From 760 individuals of seven shrew species, the common shrew (Sorex araneus) was significantly dominated in all study areas. We did not observe any significant, regular multi-annual cycles of the common shrew. However, a cross-correlation in density fluctuation of this species was detected in all mountain areas indicating the influence of environmental factors acting on a larger geographical scale. The autumn abundance of shrews was dependent on the subset of climatic variables, together explaining 56% of the variance in the linear regression model. Except for the length of the snow cover of ≥ 5 cm, all other significant variables were associated with North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO). Longer duration of snow cover during the winter before trapping, higher average NAO value during months before trapping, and NAO value in September influenced negatively the autumn abundance of shrews, contrary, higher value of NAO in May and October increased the abundance. Our results demonstrate the sensitivity of shrews to winters with a longer period of snow cover and to climatic oscillations associated with the NAO, whose effect is monthly dependent and probably indirectly influencing shrews through their prey.

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Population dynamics of the common shrew (Sorex araneus) in Central European forest clearings

Dokulilová

Krojerová-Prokešová

Heroldová

et al. 2023

Eur J Wildl Res

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African striped mice have relatively smaller brains in the food deprived dry season than in the wet season

Mulvey,

Pillay,

Makuya

et al. 2023

Mamm Biol

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The ability to alter the mass of energetically consumptive organs in response to seasonal variation in nutritional access has been demonstrated in several species from temperate climates, but less so from other climate zones. We predicted that adult striped mice (Rhabdomys pumilio) from the Succulent Karoo semi-desert in South Africa have lower organ masses during the hot summer dry season with low food availability (n = 28) when compared to the food-rich wet season (n = 25) as a possible adaptation to reduced energy expenditure. Food availability in the wet season was more than twice than that of the dry season. Body mass was positively correlated with most organ masses considered, except for the spleen. Mandible length, as a non-plastic measure of body size, was positively correlated with the mass of heart and stomach. Relative to body mass and to mandible length, kidneys and the small intestine were heavier in the wet season than during the dry season in both sexes. Liver masses were greater in females (but smaller in males) during the wet season, possibly due to increased female reproductive investment during this season. Both sexes had relatively heavier brains (by 9.6% on average) during the wet season than during the dry season, which is the first indication of the Dehnel phenomenon in a rodent, in a subtropical climate, and in the southern hemisphere. Future studies will have to test whether this change in brain size is reversible. Having relatively smaller brains during the dry season could be a mechanism to reduce energy consumption. In conclusion, our study indicates that striped mice may save energy during the food restricted dry season by reducing energetically expensive organ masses, including brain mass.

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Morphometric study of sex differences and static variation in the skull of Indochinese ground squirrel, Menetes berdmorei (Rodentia: Sciuridae)

Biswas

Motokawa

2023

Zoologischer Anzeiger

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Fifty years of data show the effects of climate on overall skull size and the extent of seasonal reversible skull size changes (Dehnel's phenomenon) in the common shrew

Abstract: This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Cited by 6 publications

References 69 publications

Population dynamics of the common shrew (Sorex araneus) in Central European forest clearings

Population dynamics of the common shrew (Sorex araneus) in Central European forest clearings

African striped mice have relatively smaller brains in the food deprived dry season than in the wet season

Morphometric study of sex differences and static variation in the skull of Indochinese ground squirrel, Menetes berdmorei (Rodentia: Sciuridae)

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