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Physiological Variability in Juvenile Nine-Banded Armadillos: Responses to Simulated Burrow Conditions During Development

Spencer, Megan A.
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1312990977

Abstract Details

2011, Master of Science, University of Akron, Biology.
Physiological development is a function of an organism's genotype, its environment, and the interaction between these two factors. Assessing the relative influence of these factors on an animal's physiology has occupied researchers for decades. Clonal offspring, such as those in the nine-banded armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus) provide a unique opportunity to essentially eliminate genotypic variation and focus on environmental causes of physiological variation. Typically, variation in offspring physiology is significantly less within litters than between litters, a phenomenon known as the “sibling effect”. Ten D. novemcinctus neonates were removed from their mother following birth and hand-reared in identical environments. As juveniles, the armadillos, comprised of four litters, were exposed to acute hypoxia/hypercapnia, mimicking severe burrow conditions, and O2 consumption and CO2 production were measured via flow through respirometry. The physiological challenge of burrow conditions provides a view of sibling variation under stress. Although, the gas stressor in this study was acute, the burrow conditions in the wild are chronic for neonates. Resting O2 consumption and CO2 excretion were also measured to determine mass-specific basal metabolic rate (BMR). D. novemcinctus is known for having a lower mass-specific BMR and lower body temperature in comparison to other mammals. Although adult armadillos have been reported as a unique mammal in regards to energetics, the armadillo juveniles follow the same trends as other mammalian neonates and juveniles. Armadillo juveniles, similar to other mammalian juveniles, follow a trend toward decreased mass-specific BMR over time. When exposed to acute hypoxia/hypercapnia, an increase in mass-specific O2 consumption and mass-specific CO2 production was seen in all armadillo juveniles, consistent with previous research of neonatal mammals exposed to hypoxia and hypercapnia. By controlling the neonatal environment (i.e. feeding and temperature regime), it can be stated that the physiological variation found is due primarily to genetics. Within-litter variation was a significant source of the variation for mass-specific basal metabolic rate in both normoxia and hypoxia/hypercapnia, while between-litter variation was not. Although this does not conclusively indicate the presence of a sibling effect, the litter-treatment interaction and the age-litter interaction found within the data provide evidence for its presence.
Brian Bagatto, Dr. (Advisor)
Francisco Moore, Dr. (Committee Member)
Rolando Ramirez, Dr. (Committee Member)
57 p.
Biology
hypoxia; hypercapnia; armadillo; juvenile; litter effect; burrow conditions; armadillos; clutch effect

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Spencer, M. A. (2011). Physiological Variability in Juvenile Nine-Banded Armadillos: Responses to Simulated Burrow Conditions During Development [Master's thesis, University of Akron]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1312990977

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Spencer, Megan. Physiological Variability in Juvenile Nine-Banded Armadillos: Responses to Simulated Burrow Conditions During Development. 2011. University of Akron, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1312990977.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Spencer, Megan. "Physiological Variability in Juvenile Nine-Banded Armadillos: Responses to Simulated Burrow Conditions During Development." Master's thesis, University of Akron, 2011. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1312990977

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

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© 2011, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by University of Akron and OhioLINK.