• Login
    View Item 
    •   CIB Repository
    • CORE TEAM RESEARCH OUTPUTS
    • RESEARCH: Chimimba C
    • View Item
    •   CIB Repository
    • CORE TEAM RESEARCH OUTPUTS
    • RESEARCH: Chimimba C
    • View Item
    JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.

    Is reproduction of male eastern rock sengis (Elelphantulus myurus) from southern Africa affected by photoperiod

    Thumbnail
    View/Open
    Chimimba_CanJZool_2016.pdf (312.6Kb)
    Date
    2016
    Author
    Medger, K.
    Chimimba, C.T.
    Bennett, N.C.
    Format Extent
    320122 bytes
    Metadata
    Show full item record
    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.
    URI
    http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/2138
    Collections
    • RESEARCH: Chimimba C [46]

    DSpace software copyright © 2002-2016  DuraSpace
    Contact Us | Send Feedback
     

     

    Browse

    All of CIB RepositoryCommunities & CollectionsBy Issue DateAuthorsTitlesSubjectsBy Date CreatedThis CollectionBy Issue DateAuthorsTitlesSubjectsBy Date Created

    My Account

    LoginRegister

    Statistics

    View Usage Statistics

    DSpace software copyright © 2002-2016  DuraSpace
    Contact Us | Send Feedback