Stressful living in lower-quality habitats? Body mass, feeding behavior and physiological stress levels in wild wood mouse populations.

Abstract

Wild populations are continuously subjected to changes in environmental factors that pose different challenges. Body condition and hormones have been commonly used as health indicators due to their potential correlation with fitness. In the present study, we analyzed whether habitats of different quality influenced body mass, food intake and physiological stress levels in wild wood mice (Apodemus sylvaticus). Field work was seasonally carried out in Holm oak woods and pine forests in central Spain. A total of 93 wood mice from 4 different populations (2 per habitat type) were live-trapped. From each captured individual we noted body mass and food intake, measured as the amount of bait remaining in each trap. The physiological stress levels were measured non-invasively in collected fresh feces by quantifying fecal corticosterone metabolites (FCM) with a 5a-pregnane-3ß,11ß, 21-triol-20-one enzyme immunoassay. Wood mice abundances decreased from spring to summer, were higher in Holm oak woods than in pine forests and also resulted in different age-class distribution between both habitats. Individuals inhabiting pine forests showed a lower body mass and increased food intake, probably because of the comparatively lower food quality and availability in this habitat. Furthermore, these individuals showed increased physiological stress levels, likely due to the lower quality habitat in relation to both food and vegetation cover availability. Overall, besides affecting local wood mouse abundance, our study underscores the effect of habitat quality on body mass, food intake and the endocrine stress response. Considering the wood mouse's pivotal position in ecosystems, these results could help in the understanding of environmental traits hampering the viability of wild populations.