Abstract
An individual’s ability to survive harsh conditions might depend on its available energy, and also on its health, which is expected to decline as conditions deteriorate. Yet, we know little about how health and energy expenditure are shaped by harsh environmental conditions in free-living vertebrates. Here, we studied how African striped mice (Rhabdomys pumilio) that survived summer droughts differed in their energy expenditure and health from non-survivors. Specifically, we tested whether: (1) survivors’ and non-survivors’ health and energy expenditure differed before environmental conditions declined; (2) non-survivors were in poorer health and had greater energy expenditure than survivors when conditions were harshest; (3) non-survivors’ health deteriorated more than that of survivors as conditions deteriorated; and (4) survivors recovered once conditions improved. Survivors and non-survivors’ health was assessed using VetsScan ABAXIS, while energy expenditure was measured as resting metabolic rate (RMR). Before conditions declined, non-survivors had lower energy stores and higher globulin levels than survivors. As conditions became harsher, survivors’ and non-survivors’ health deteriorated but only non-survivors showed signs of permanent pathology (increased glucose and decreased globulin). Once conditions improved, survivors’ health improved but was not fully restored (increased alanine aminotransferase and decreased globulin). Furthermore, while survivors and non-survivors had similar RMR before conditions became harsh; their levels diverged considerably when conditions deteriorated, with survivors having a decreased RMR and non-survivors having an increased RMR. Our results show that an individual’s health before facing an environmental challenge and the way it regulates its RMR influences its ability to maintain homeostasis when conditions become more taxing.
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Acknowledgments
We are thankful to the Department of Tourism, Environment and Conservation of the Northern Cape for issuing research permits. This study was made possible by the administrative and technical support of the Succulent Karoo Research Station, (registered South African NPO 122-134). Special thanks to the SKRS manager C.H. Yuen and the postdoc A. Maille, who helped with blood collection and to D. Padiachy for comments. We extend thanks to the manager and staff of the Goegap Nature Reserve for their support. Many thanks also go to Anjotech (Anjotech, Advanced Chemical Blood Analysis Systems, Johannesburg, South Africa), who generously donated some of the ABAXIS rotors used for the blood biochemical analysis.
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This work was supported by The National Research Foundation (Grant number 80567) and the University of the Witwatersrand.
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All applicable international, national, and/or institutional guidelines for the care and use of animals were followed. Animal ethics clearance was provided by the University of the Witwatersrand (AESC 2007/10/01 and 2007/39/04).
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Communicated by I.D. Hume.
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Schoepf, I., Pillay, N. & Schradin, C. The pathophysiology of survival in harsh environments. J Comp Physiol B 187, 183–201 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00360-016-1020-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00360-016-1020-2