Differential Testosterone Biosynthesis Relates to Decoupling of Reproductive Pattern in eromyscus Syntopic Species (Rodentia: Muridae)
Arturo Salame-Mendez1*, Alondra Castro-Campillo2, Ivan M. De la Cruz-Arguello3, Noe Gonzalez-Ruiz2, Jorge Haro-Castellanos1, Enrique Canchola-Martlnez1, and Jose Ramlrez-Pulido2
Citation : Arturo Salame-Mendez, et.al, Differential Testosterone Biosynthesis Relates to Decoupling of Reproductive Pattern in Peromyscus Syntopic Species (Rodentia: Muridae) International Journal of Research Studies in Zoology 2019, 5(2) : 1-7
Syntopic, congeneric species often deploy ecological strategies to avoid interspecific competition for any resource. Here we explore if the monthly and seasonal biosynthesis of sexual steroids involved in the Δ4 pathway, is one of such strategies for syntopicPeromyscusmelanotis and Peromyscusdifficultiesfelipensis, since a differential pattern could affect, in turn, the temporality of their respective annual reproduction patterns. We found, indeed, an ecophysiological relationship between these two Peromyscus inhabiting at a midlatitude, temperate forest, since each had a monthly and seasonal species-specific pattern for sexual steroid production. We discuss how such differences are likely to account for the interspecific temporal decoupling of their respective reproductive patterns.