Some Physiological Adaptations of the Mountain and Plain Forms of the Wood-Mouse (Apodemus sylvaticus) and of Other Species of Mouse-Like Rodents

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Abstract
Wood-mice of the mountains (1500-1800 meters) and of the plain (300 m.), belonging to the same subspecies by their blood relationship as well as by their morphological characters, differ sharply in their Hb content (12.1%) and number of erythrocytes (9%). On the contrary, 2 subspp. of wood-mice from the plain, situated more than 1500 km. apart, have similar blood composition. Transfer of adult wood-mice from the mountains to the plain did not produce a decrease of Hb content or number of erythrocytes, although a transfer of animals from the plain to the mountains produced a rapid adaptive reaction (8.8% increase). Under experimentally reduced air pressures for 70 hrs., the number of erythrocytes was increased in wood-mice and other rodents from the plains from 9.6 to 27.2%. Changes of a similar sort also occurred in the cell surface. In 2 spp. during the expt. the loss of weight was slight (4-6%), but in 3 spp. it was more (9-23%). Differences between spp. in physiological response to pressure are correlated with differences in elevations at which they are found.

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