Affiliation:
1. Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20, Hatfield, 0028 South Africa.
2. DST–NRF Centre of Excellence for Invasion Biology (CIB), Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20, Hatfield, 0028 South Africa.
Abstract
Many mammals use the change in day length to time physiological and behavioural activities on a seasonal basis. Particularly, mammals from temperate regions use photoperiod to regulate reproductive functions; however, information on the role of photoperiod in small mammals from the tropics and subtropics is scarce. We studied the response of the reproductive system of male eastern rock sengis (Elephantulus myurus Thomas and Schwann, 1906) from southern Africa to photoperiods of differing length. Elephantulus myurus breeds seasonally during the spring and summer months of the southern hemisphere despite its subtropical distribution. It is one of only three sengi species known to breed seasonally. Fourteen male E. myurus were subjected to either long-day (LD; 16 h light (L) : 8 h dark (D)) or short-day (SD; 8 h L : 16 h D) photoperiods and the photoperiodic effects on the testes, testosterone concentration, and body mass were examined. Testicular volume and mass, seminiferous tubule diameter, and body mass were not significantly different between LD and SD conditions. However, plasma testosterone concentration was significantly lower in males on LD photoperiods compared with SD photoperiods. Male E. myurus may not use photoperiod as a cue to control seasonal reproductive changes. Other environmental factors such as temperature, rainfall, food abundance, or social factors are possibly influencing seasonal reproduction in this species.
Publisher
Canadian Science Publishing
Subject
Animal Science and Zoology,Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
Cited by
1 articles.
订阅此论文施引文献
订阅此论文施引文献,注册后可以免费订阅5篇论文的施引文献,订阅后可以查看论文全部施引文献