Apparent Absorption Efficiency and Gut Morphometry of Wood Mice, Apodemus sylvaticus , from Two Distinct Populations with Different Diets

Corp, Nadia; Gorman, Martyn L.; Speakman, John R.

Abstract

Interpopulation variation in the diet of the wood mouse, Apode‐mus sylvaticus, is well documented. In this study, we examined the gut morphology and apparent absorption efficiencies of two populations of wood mice whose diet in the field was known to differ. One population inhabited sand dunes, where food availability was relatively low and the diet was dominated by invertebrates. The other population lived in deciduous woodland, with greater food availability and a diet consisting primarily of seeds. Wood mice from the woodland had longer small intestines and total digestive tract lengths than mice from the sand dunes. However, these differences had no effect on the apparent absorption efficiencies of dry mass or energy when the mice were fed mealworms, wheat grain, or All‐Bran diets (apparent energy absorption efficiencies of 88%, 89%, and 65%, respectively). The population differences in gut morphometry may be linked to different resource availabilities at the two field sites.

Citation

Corp, N., Gorman, M., & Speakman, J. (1997). Apparent Absorption Efficiency and Gut Morphometry of Wood Mice, Apodemus sylvaticus , from Two Distinct Populations with Different Diets. Physiological Zoology, 70(6), https://doi.org/10.1086/515876

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Nov 4, 1997
• Publication Date: 1997-11
• Deposit Date: Apr 19, 2024
• Journal: Physiological Zoology
• Print ISSN: 0031-935X
• Publisher: The University of Chicago Press
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 70
• Issue: 6
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1086/515876