Mb. Voltura et Ba. Wunder, EFFECTS OF AMBIENT-TEMPERATURE, DIET QUALITY, AND FOOD RESTRICTION ONBODY-COMPOSITION DYNAMICS OF THE PRAIRIE VOLE, MICROTUS-OCHROGASTER, Physiological zoology, 71(3), 1998, pp. 321-328
We manipulated diet quality, food availability, and ambient temperatur
e to investigate the role of these variables in fat deposition by grow
ing prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster) and fat use by adult voles. E
xposure to either 5 degrees C or a high-fiber diet reduced fat deposit
ion by growing voles and also reduced growth as measured by body lengt
h. Adult voles on the high-fiber diet reduced fat content, but exposur
e to 5 degrees C had no effect on body composition. Both the high-fibe
r diet and exposure to 5 degrees C caused increased food intake and re
duced diet digestibility for adult voles. Restricting access to food r
esulted in reduced lipid mass of all adult voles and reduced fat-free
mass of those held at 5 degrees C. When faced with poor food quality o
r cold ambient temperature, voles will increase food intake rather tha
n catabolize lipid tissue. When food availability is limited, however,
voles will use fat stores to meet the balance of their energy require
ments.