Mb. Voltura, SEASONAL-VARIATION IN BODY-COMPOSITION AND GUT CAPACITY OF THE PRAIRIE VOLE (MICROTUS-OCHROGASTER), Canadian journal of zoology, 75(10), 1997, pp. 1714-1719
Prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster) were trapped during different sea
sons in order to examine simultaneous variation in body composition an
d gut capacity. Voles in reproductive condition were trapped in May, A
ugust, and November but not in February. Body masses of adult voles we
re lowest during February 1994. Adult males showed no seasonal variati
on in absolute lipid mass but did exhibit variation in relative fat co
ntent (percent body fat), with the highest values found in February 19
94. Both absolute lipid mass and relative fat content of adult females
varied with month of capture and were higher in February of both 1994
and 1995. Juvenile voles showed no variation in body composition betw
een seasons and had fat levels similar to those of adult voles in the
breeding months. Wet mass of the gastrointestinal tract varied with se
ason of capture for both adult males and females, but no distinct patt
ern was evident. Mass of gut contents varied between trapping periods
for adult males, but there were no seasonal differences in the gut con
tents of adult females or juveniles. The average mass of gut contents
was higher than previously reported for field-caught prairie voles; th
is difference is likely due to the use of snap traps versus live traps
.