Ecological physiology of mammals in Argentina: a developing and promising field

LUNA F; CUTRERA AP; ZENUTO RR

MASTOZOOLOGí­A NEOTROPICAL

UNIDAD DE ZOOLOGÍA Y ECOLOGÍA ANIMAL, INSTITUTO ARGENTINO DE INVESTIGACIÓN DE LAS ZONAS ARIDAS, CRICYT, CONICET

Año: 2020 vol. 27 p. 78 - 100

0327-9383

Ecological physiology is a discipline that arises from the conjunctionof comparative physiology, ecology and evolution, focusing on patterns and processesby which physiological diversity originates and persists in nature. In thepresent study, our objective is to review articles published in the field of ecologicalphysiology using wild mammals in Argentina as study models, including field andlaboratory settings. That is, different physiological responses are consideredin relation to changes in ecological conditions, mainly those related to thedisciplines of energetics, ecological endocrinology and ecoimmunology. Studiesrelated to energy acquisition and energy expenditure were earlier in theirdevelopment than ecological endocrinology or, even more so, ecoimmunology. Thespecies studied are scarce, and most of them are rodents, probably due to thedifficulties of monitoring physiological parameters in nature, as well asimplementing controlled studies in captivity conditions. The roles of lifehistory, habitat and phylogeny modelling the physiological response of animalsto environmental changes require future studies that consider more species fromdifferent groups of mammals, as well as larger geographical and temporalscales. In achieving these objectives, we expect an important impact in theexpansion of our scientific knowledge, the conservation of our local fauna anda more efficient environmental management.