EFFECTS OF FOOD AVAILABILITY AND AMBIENT-TEMPERATURE ON HIBERNATION IN THE JAPANESE DORMOUSE, GLIRULUS-JAPONICUS

The effects of food availability and ambient temperature (Ta) on hiber nation in the Japanese dormouse, Glirulus japonicus, were examined. Wh en the dormice were deprived of food under natural environmental condi tions in midwinter, they showed typical hibernation patterns; in contr ast, the animals given ad lib food did not show continuous long-term t orpor. Furthermore, exposure to constant low temperature did not affec t the torpor patterns in the animals receiving adequate food. These re sults suggest that food availability plays a decisive role in the onse t and maintenance of hibernation in this species, and that low Ta does not have a great influence on the torpor patterns in animals with acc ess to food. This differs from the previous study that emphasized the importance of Ta in the occurrence of torpor and discounted the effect s of food shortage.