Morphometric parameters predict body fat proportions in common hamsters

Carina Siutz, Thomas Ruf, Stefanie Monecke, Eva Millesi

Publications: Contribution to journalArticlePeer Reviewed

Abstract

Common hamsters (Cricetus cricetus) are hibernators that rely both on body fat reserves and food stores for the winter period. They face an ongoing population decline in most parts of their distribution and recently were classified as critically endangered. Knowledge on individual body fat proportions in this species is of particular interest for conservation, because it could contribute to better understand the high plasticity in overwintering strategies, overwinter mortality rates, individual variations in reproductive output, and give information on the animals’ health state. To calculate body fat proportions, we validated a method that can be applied in the field without the use of anesthesia. To develop this method, we first analyzed the body fat in carcasses of common hamsters using Soxhlet extractions and measured four morphometric parameters (body mass, head length, tibia length, foot length). The morphometric measurements were then integrated in a linear regression model to predict body fat proportions based on the measured values. The morphometric variables yielded an explained variance (adjusted R2) of 96.42\.27 ± 0.11\ which consistently produced reliable values. By measuring the four morphometric parameters and following the provided instructions, body fat proportions can be reliably and noninvasively estimated in captive or free-ranging common hamsters. Furthermore, the method could be applicable to other rodents after species-specific validation.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)471-480
Number of pages10
JournalJournal of Mammalogy
Volume103
Issue number2
Early online date25 Nov 2021
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2022

Austrian Fields of Science 2012

  • 106051 Behavioural biology

Keywords

  • AGRICULTURAL INTENSIFICATION
  • BIOELECTRICAL-IMPEDANCE ANALYSIS
  • BIRDS
  • CONDITION INDEXES
  • CONSERVATION
  • CRICETUS-CRICETUS
  • FARMLAND BIODIVERSITY
  • HIBERNATION
  • MASS
  • X-RAY ABSORPTIOMETRY
  • body fat
  • common hamster
  • morphometrics
  • multiple regression
  • noninvasive
  • validation

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