Effect of Seasonal Swings and Age Specific Variations on Body Weight of Indian Gerbille (Tatera indica)
Effect of Seasonal Swings and Age Specific Variations on Body Weight of Indian Gerbille (Tatera indica)
Mumtaz Akhtar1, Shabana Naz2,*, Muhamamad Iqbal3, Waqar Azeem4 and Mirza Azhar Beg5
ABSTRACT
Two hundred and eight specimens of Indian gerbille were captured from the fields and farmhouses of the croplands of the Central Punjab. The collected animals were segregated into five age classes, i.e. I (immature), II (sub-adults), III (adults), IV (middle aged), V (old), on the basis of tooth wear, mandibular length, and condition of reproductive organs. In the winter samples, most of the animals belonged to the middle body weight classes, while in the spring sample majority of specimens belonged to the heaviest weight classes. The comparison of age to body weight resulted in considerable overlap. Age Class I animals never exceeded 70g weight limit. Majority of Age Class II animals weighed less than 86g. Most of the Age Class III animals weighed more than 100g. As compared to Age Class III, small proportion of Age Class IV weighed 100g or less, and Age Class V animals comprised largely of heavy animals. In the winter sample, animals of Age Class III, IV and V were dominant, while in the spring sample, animals of Age Class IV and V were predominant. Animals of Age Class I were represented for the first time in the summer sample. It was also observed that the seasons influenced the body weight of the gerbille at a statistically significant level (P < 0.01). Sex did not seem to be an important factor in this respect. However, interaction of age and sex was statistically significant (F= 6.94; d.f.= 3, 112; P< 0.01).
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December 2017
Vol. 49, Iss. 6, Pages 1937-2341
