Patterns of daily activity in the leaf-eared mouse (Phyllotis darwini): effects of food availability

The daily locomotor activity pattern of the nocturnal sigmodontine rodent P hyllotis darwini was analysed when faced with a differential offer of food. Animals with restricted food supply were less active during the day compar ed to animals who had access to food ad libitum, but no differences in acti vity were observed during the night. Minimization of energy expenditure may account for this behavioural plasticity, and such flexibility is extremely important in the unpredictable and low productive environments inhabited b y P. darwini. (C) 2001 Academic Press.