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Multiple responses to different photoperiods occur in the mouse, Peromyscus leucopus

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Summary

  1. 1.

    Peromyscus leucopus exhibits multiple responses to different daylengths. The winter molt and gonadal regression are complete in populations chronically exposed to 12, 11, 10, or 9 h of light per day while hypertrophy of brown fat and occurrence of daily torpor were greater in mice on 9 or 10 h of light when compared to animals on 11 or 12 h photocycles.

  2. 2.

    A precise “critical” daylength is not observed in this species for gonadal regression, occurrence of daily torpor, or hypertrophy of brown fat.

  3. 3.

    Certain mice never exhibit a short-day response following 12 weeks exposure to 12, 11, 10, or 9 h of light per day.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, Wesleyan University, 06457, Middletown, CT, USA

    G. Robert Lynch & Seth L. Gendler

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  1. G. Robert Lynch
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  2. Seth L. Gendler
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Lynch, G.R., Gendler, S.L. Multiple responses to different photoperiods occur in the mouse, Peromyscus leucopus . Oecologia 45, 318–321 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00540198

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00540198

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