Respirometry data for cactus mice (Peromyscus eremicus) corresponding to Colella et al. 2021

Metabolism is a complex phenotype shaped by natural environmental rhythms, as well as behavioral, morphological, and physiological adaptations. Metabolism has been historically studied under constant environmental conditions, but new methods of continuous metabolic phenotyping now offer a window into organismal responses to dynamic environments, and enable identification of abiotic controls and the timing of physiological responses relative to environmental change. We use indirect calorimetry to characterize metabolic phenotypes of the desert-adapted cactus mouse (Peromyscus eremicus) in response variable environmental conditions that mimic their native environment versus those recorded under constant warm and constant cool conditions, while using a constant photoperiod and full access to resources. We found significant sexual dimorphism, with males being more prone to dehydration than females. Under circadian environmental variation, most metabolic shifts occurred prior to physical env...新陈代谢（Metabolism）是一种受自然环境节律、行为、形态与生理适应共同塑造的复杂表型（phenotype）。长期以来，代谢研究多在恒定环境条件下开展，但新兴的连续代谢表型分析（continuous metabolic phenotyping）技术如今为解析生物体对动态环境的响应提供了全新视角，同时可实现非生物调控因子的识别，以及生理响应相对于环境变化的时间节点定位。本研究采用间接量热法（indirect calorimetry），对适应沙漠环境的仙人掌小鼠（Peromyscus eremicus）的代谢表型进行表征，分别设置模拟其原生栖息地的可变环境条件，以及恒定温暖、恒定凉爽两种对照环境条件，实验期间保持恒定光周期并确保资源充足供给。研究发现该物种存在显著的性别二态性（sexual dimorphism）：雄性个体较雌性更易发生脱水。在昼夜节律（circadian）性环境变化条件下，多数代谢转变均发生于物理环境（physical env...）