The Desert Woodrat: A Laboratory Colony
The Desert Woodrat: A Laboratory Colony
复制标题
沙漠林鼠：实验室殖民地
DOI：
10.2307/1376400
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发表时间：
1957
影响因子：
1.7
通讯作者：
H. J. Egoscue
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
H. J. Egoscue
The success of laboratory or simulated epizoological studies and related research involving native mammals may be dependent upon an assured supply of the species being studied. If the research is purely bacteriological in nature, then it is often required that the animals be reared under standard conditions and have a known pedigree—preferably at least second or third generation laboratory-reared stock.
After two years of study (1953–55), a breeding colony of desert woodrats, Neotoma lepida lepida Thomas, was established in the Faunal Colony of Ecological Research, University of Utah, at Dugway, Utah. Testing the practicability of this species as a laboratory animal was part of a program designed to examine the mass rearing possibilities in the laboratory of several rodents native to the western Utah desert. Bushy-tailed woodrats, Neotoma cinerea acraia (Elliot), also were reared but on a much smaller scale.
This paper reports methods used to produce more than 200 laboratory-bred desert woodrats in close confinement. Other data, such as gestation period, litter size, age of puberty, longevity as breeders, sex ratio and yearly reproductive potential are given. Since a knowledge of the habits of an animal in nature is often helpful in keeping and rearing the species in captivity, certain pertinent field observations on this woodrat are also included.
Dependable laboratory and field assistance from B. N. Day and Eddyjo Ekker is gratefully acknowledged. Other Ecological Research personnel who generously contributed advice and assistance include: A. M. Woodbury, Director; D. M. Allred, Chief Ectoparasitologist; E. D. Vest, Chief Ecologist; E. A.
Shippee, John Smith and D. D. Parker. Acknowledgment is also extended to Robert Holdenried for reading the manuscript.
This work was supported by U.S. Army Chemical Corps contract No. DA-18-064-CML-2639, with the University of Utah.
Parent stocks for the colony were obtained from the south end of the …
