Abstract
Intra-specific color variation is often underestimated by researchers, and among mammals, intra-specific differences in coloration are poorly documented for most species. The main goal of this study was to apply an objective color measurement methodology to the study of a specific problem: the detection, if any, of patterns of changes in the fur color of specimens of Akodon budini in relation to biological (i.e., sex) and environmental (i.e., season) variables. We hypothesize that coat color will be more homogeneous in males than in females and that coat color will be darker in winter than in summer, the latter being orange. We measured the pelage color on five points over the dorsal surface of 26 A. budini museum specimens using a spectroradiometer and a diffuse illumination cabin. We used Principal Component Analysis to describe the association between the color variables, sex and season, and each of the observations. We then used general linear models of Analysis of Variance to examine relationships between color data, season, and sex. The results clearly confirm the hypothesis related to seasonal coat color change but do not directly confirm the hypothesis related to changes in coat color in relation to sex, and we show the complexity of the studied pattern. In conclusion, undoubtedly, the studied variables should accordingly be considered when studying the coloration of specimens for characterization, identification and discrimination of different taxonomic units based on color.
Highlights
Akodon Meyen, 1833 is the most diverse Akodontini and Sigmodontinae genus, with 41 valid living species (Musser and Carleton, 2005), and one of wider distribution genera in the Neotropics, inhabiting landscapes from northern South America to Patagonia, mainly in Andean habitats (Reig, 1987; Smith and Patton, 1999)
Dots seem to be almost distributed in the space defined by PC1 and 2, without having any apparent differential distribution determined by the sex of the specimen, except the apparent different amplitude of the color variation range observed in each sex
This study shows a number of associations between individual pelage color variation of Akodon budini and biological and environmental variables
Summary
Akodon Meyen, 1833 is the most diverse Akodontini and Sigmodontinae genus, with 41 valid living species (Musser and Carleton, 2005), and one of wider distribution genera in the Neotropics, inhabiting landscapes from northern South America to Patagonia, mainly in Andean habitats (Reig, 1987; Smith and Patton, 1999). For many species there is only a brief original description, most of which are based on few specimens (Jayat et al, 2007), and A. budini is not an exception. This species, as the vast majority (Pardiñas, 2009), is poorly known even in basic taxonomic and morphological aspects. Prey animals have evolved a variety of visual characteristics in order to minimize detection by predators (Rowland, 2009); color patterns should be inconspicuous or cryptic against visual background (Endler, 1990)
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