Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Adaptive metabolic variation of chromosome forms in mole rats,Spalax

  • Specialia
  • Published:
Experientia Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Résumé

Nous avons comparé la consomption minimale d'oxygène (BMR) chez 23 rats taupes au repos, provenant de 5 populations duSpalax ehrenbergi en Israel, avec 3 formes chromosomales. Il s'agit de diploides (2n) 52, 58, et 60 s'étendant suivant un axe Nord-Sud. Lorsque l'on passe du nord humide au sud aride, leurs BMR diminuent progressivement et d'une façon significative, mais la différence entre la valeur du BMR et son espérance mathématique augmente. Ce gradient physiologique suggère a) que le BMR s'est probablement adapté a l'index d'aridité, sa valeur faible près du désert indiquant une réduction du besoin d'eau et de dépense calorifique; et b), que la spéciation chromosomale en spalacides est due, en partie du moins, au développement de supergènes adaptés à l'aridité de l'environnement.

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

References

  1. M. J. D. White, A. Rev. Genet.3, 75 (1969).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. E. Mayr,Populations Species, and Evolution (Belknap, Harvard, Cambridge 1970).

    Google Scholar 

  3. B. Wallace, Cold Spring Harb. Symp. quant. Biol.24, 193 (1959).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. E. Nevo, Nato Adv. Study Inst.Vertebrate Evolution. Istanbul, Turkey, August 4 (1969).

  5. J. Wahrman, R. Goitein andE. Nevo, Science164, 82 (1969)—InComparative Mammalian Cytogenetics (Ed.K. Benirschke; Springer Verlag, New York 1969), p. 30–48.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. E. Nevo, Science163, 484 (1969).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. M. Kleiber,The Fire of Life (Wiley & Sons, New York 1961).

    Google Scholar 

  8. I. Savić, Ekologija visteSpalax leucodon Nordmann, 1840 (Rodentia) u Jugoslaviji. PhD thesis, Belgrade University (1965).

  9. A. Gorecki andL. Christov, Acta theriol.14a, 441 (1969).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. B. K. McNab, Ecology47, 712 (1966).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. M. Murie, Ecology42, 723 (1961).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. B. K. McNab andP. R. Morrison, Ecol. Monogr.33, 63 (1963).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. R. E. MacMillen, Comp. Biochem. Physiol.16, 227 (1965).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. A. Shkolnik andA. Borut, J. Mammal.50, 245 (1969).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. J. S. Hart, inComparative Physiology of Thermoregulation (Ed.G. C. Whittow; Academic Press, New York and London 1971), vol. 2, p. 2–130.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, Haifa University, Mount Carmel, Haifa, Israel

    E. Nevo & A. Shkolnik

  2. Department of Zoology, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel

    E. Nevo & A. Shkolnik

Authors
  1. E. Nevo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. A. Shkolnik
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

Acknowledgments. Our thanks toM. Avrahami andY. Sivan for field assistance, and toY. Goldbach andY. Ben-Dov for laboratory assistance. We are indebted to Drs.M. Brown andD. Wool for statistical assistance, and to Drs.E. Mayr, O. P. Pearson, D. Robertshaw andC. R. Taylor for critical reading of the manuscript. This project was supported in part by a Volkswagenwerk grant to the senior author.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Nevo, E., Shkolnik, A. Adaptive metabolic variation of chromosome forms in mole rats,Spalax. Experientia 30, 724–726 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01924150

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01924150

Keywords

Search

Navigation