Seasonal reversible size changes in the braincase and mass of common shrews are flexibly modified by environmental conditions

Scientific Reports
Javier LázaroDina K N Dechmann

Abstract

The growth of the vertebrate skull and brain is usually unidirectional and more or less stops when animals are adult. Red-toothed shrews break this rule. They seasonally shrink and regrow brain and skull size by 20% or more, presumably to save energy when conditions are harsh. The size change is anticipatory of environmental change and occurs in all individuals, but it is unknown whether its extent can be modulated by environmental conditions. We kept shrews under different conditions, monitored seasonal changes in skull size with series of X-rays, and compared them with free ranging animals. We found extensive differences in the pattern of skull size change between experimental groups. Skull size of shrews kept at constant temperature showed a steady decline, while the skull size changes of free ranging shrews and captive individuals exposed to natural temperature regimes were identical. In contrast, body mass never reached the spring values of free ranging shrews in either captive regime. The extent of this adaptive seasonal pattern can thus be flexibly adapted to current environmental conditions. Combining reversible size changes with such strong phenotypic plasticity may allow these small, non-hibernating predators with hig...Continue Reading

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References

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Nov 25, 2017·The Journal of Experimental Biology·Javier LázaroDina K N Dechmann
Apr 18, 2018·Brain Structure & Function·Javier LázaroDina K N Dechmann

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Citations

Feb 11, 2020·Frontiers in Physiology·Warren W Burggren
Dec 2, 2020·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Saikat RayRobert Konrad Naumann
Mar 27, 2021·Ecology and Evolution·Javier LázaroDina K N Dechmann
May 26, 2021·Current Biology : CB·Javier Lázaro, Dina K N Dechmann

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Methods Mentioned

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X-ray

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