RELATIONS BETWEEN SEASONAL-CHANGES IN WAT ER METABOLISM, ESTIVATION AND REPRODUCTION IN GERBILLUS-NIGERIAE AND TATERILLUS-PETTERI (RODENTIA, GERBILLIDAE)
B. Sicard et F. Fuminier, RELATIONS BETWEEN SEASONAL-CHANGES IN WAT ER METABOLISM, ESTIVATION AND REPRODUCTION IN GERBILLUS-NIGERIAE AND TATERILLUS-PETTERI (RODENTIA, GERBILLIDAE), Comptes rendus de l'Academie des sciences. Serie 3, Sciences de la vie, 317(3), 1994, pp. 231-238
Seasonal variations in total body water, body water turnover rates, an
d body water balance were determined in wild Gerbillus nigeriae and Ta
terillus petteri studied from 1984 to 1991 in the Oursi region (Burkin
a Faso). In the 2 sympatric species: (a) body water turnover rates wer
e minimum from March to May, maximum from June to October, and medium
from November to February; (b) a slight water deficit appeared in Janu
ary and February, whereas the water balance was evened out during the
rest of the year. With regard to our knowledge on estivation and repro
duction in the 2 species, the results suggest that: (1) the reproducti
ve offset would result from a decrease in water turnover rates related
to dietary changes; (2) the decrease in mobility, characterizing the
beginning of estivation would result from a transitory deficit in the
water balance which in this case may act as a physiological cue; (3) t
he recovery of the water balance during estivation would be necessary
for a recovery of the previously demonstrated gonadostimulatory effect
of daylength.