Climate change and seasonal reproduction in mammals

摘要: Seasonal reproduction is common among mammals at all latitudes, even in the deep tropics. This paper (i) discusses neuroendocrine pathways via which foraging conditions and predictive cues such as photoperiod enforce seasonality, (ii) considers kinds of seasonal challenges actually face natural habitats, (iii) uses information thus generated to suggest how might be influenced by global climate change. Food availability ambient temperature determine energy balance, variation balance ultimate cause breeding proximate many. Photoperiodic cueing long-lived from highest latitudes down mid-tropics. It much less shorter lived latitudes. An unknown cue triggers some desert dry grassland species when it rains. The available suggests that our changes small rodents world may adapt rather easily but longer whose regulated not do so well. A major gap knowledge concerns tropics; where most live we have least understanding environmental factors.