Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Photoperiodism and Adaptive Behaviour in a Small Mammal

  • Letter
  • Published:

From Nature

View current issue Submit your manuscript

Abstract

SEASONAL changes in photoperiod have wide-ranging effects on the biology of most temperate zone vertebrates1,2. Although photoperiodic responses have been extensively studied in birds3, research on photoperiodic effects in mammals has been confined largely to their influence on reproductive and pelage cycles4,5. Less well understood are the effects of seasonal differences in photoperiod on mammalian behaviour, although modification of behaviour is the principal means by which small mammals adjust to seasonal changes in their environment6. Furthermore, seasonal changes in photoperiod may be used as a cue by small mammals to alter behaviour before more critical changes in other environmental conditions, such as temperature. We describe here the effects of previous exposure to differences in both photoperiod and temperature on the expression of nesting, hoarding, daily activity, and food consumption in the white-footed mouse, Peromyscus leucopus.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Farner, D., Ann. Rev. Physiol., 23, 71 (1961).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Lofts, B., Animal Photoperiodism (Edward Arnold, London, 1970).

    Google Scholar 

  3. Lofts, B., and Murton, R. K., J. Zool. Lond., 155, 327 (1968).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Hart, J. S., in Adaptation to the Environment (edit. by Dill, D. B.), 295 (Amer. Physiol. Soc., Washington, DC, 1964).

    Google Scholar 

  5. Ling, J. K., Q. Rev. Biol., 45, 16 (1970).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Scholander, P. F., Walter, V., Hock, R., and Irving, L., Biol. Bull., 99, 225 (1950).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Lynch, C. B., Anim. Behav. (in the press).

  8. Falconer, D. S., Introduction to Quantitative Genetics (Ronald Press, New York, 1960).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Behavioral Genetics, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado, 80302

    G. ROBERT LYNCH & CAROL B. LYNCH

  2. Department of Zoology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, 52240

    HUGH DINGLE

Authors
  1. G. ROBERT LYNCH
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. CAROL B. LYNCH
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. HUGH DINGLE
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

LYNCH, G., LYNCH, C. & DINGLE, H. Photoperiodism and Adaptive Behaviour in a Small Mammal. Nature 244, 46–47 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1038/244046a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/244046a0

  • Springer Nature Limited

This article is cited by

Search

Navigation