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Interplay between acclimation time and diet quality on basal metabolic rate in females of degus Octodon degus (Rodentia: Octodontidae)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 November 2000

Claudio Veloso  and
Francisco Bozinovic
Claudio Veloso
Affiliation:
Departamento de Ecología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, P. Universidad Católica de Chile, Casilla 114-D, Santiago, Chile
Francisco Bozinovic
Affiliation:
Departamento de Ecología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, P. Universidad Católica de Chile, Casilla 114-D, Santiago, Chile
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Abstract

The effect of diet quality on basal metabolic rate (BMR) over time was studied in female Octodon degus. Degus fed on a low-quality diet maintained a constant BMR over time, while those fed on a high-quality diet showed an increased BMR after 30 days. After 120 days of dietary acclimation, individuals fed on a high-quality diet exhibited comparatively higher BMRs. Thus, we hypothesize that when environmental food quality is high, degus are able to increase their BMR quickly, allowing high rates of biosynthesis.

Keywords

basal metabolic rateOctodon degusquality foodacclimationChile
Type
Short Communication
Information
Journal of Zoology , Volume 252 , Issue 4 , December 2000 , pp. 531 - 547
Copyright
© 2000 The Zoological Society of London

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