The Influence of Photoperiod, Intake of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids, and Food Availability on Seasonal Acclimatization in Red Deer (Cervus elaphus)

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Northern mammals and birds withstand harsh winter conditions by hypometabolism and hypothermia. We investigated in an experimental study with a non-hibernating, but strongly seasonal species, the red deer, whether such seasonal acclimatization is controlled by photoperiod and modulated by the intake of essential polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), like in hibernators. We used advanced data logging techniques to continuously measure heart rate (f(H)), a proxy of energy expenditure, core and peripheral body temperature (T(b)), and activity in adult females fed with pellets ad libitum or with restricted daily rations and either enriched with linoleic acid (LA, C18:2 n-6) or α-linolenic acid (ALA, C18:3 n-3). Results show strong seasonal variation of measured parameters, exacerbated by restricted feeding, but with only few, mostly inconsistent, effects of supplementation with LA or ALA. By experimentally increasing the amount of circulating melatonin already in early summer to levels about three times higher than the winter peak, we induced a winter phenotype weeks ahead of time, demonstrating photoperiodic control of physiological and behavioral seasonal acclimatization. ABSTRACT: Hypometabolism and hypothermia are common reactions of birds and mammals to cope with harsh winter conditions. In small mammals, the occurrence of hibernation and daily torpor is entrained by photoperiod, and the magnitude of hypometabolism and decrease of body temperature (T(b)) is influenced by the dietary supply of essential polyunsaturated fatty acids. We investigated whether similar effects exist in a non-hibernating large mammal, the red deer (Cervus elaphus). We fed adult females with pellets enriched with either linoleic acid (LA) or α-linolenic acid (ALA) during alternating periods of ad libitum and restricted feeding in a cross-over experimental design. Further, we scrutinized the role of photoperiod for physiological and behavioral seasonal changes by manipulating the amount of circulating melatonin. The deer were equipped with data loggers recording heart rate, core and peripheral T(b), and locomotor activity. Further, we regularly weighed the animals and measured their daily intake of food pellets. All physiological and behavioral parameters measured varied seasonally, with amplitudes exacerbated by restricted feeding, but with only few and inconsistent effects of supplementation with LA or ALA. Administering melatonin around the summer solstice caused a change into the winter phenotype weeks ahead of time in all traits measured. We conclude that red deer reduce energy expenditure for thermoregulation upon short daylength, a reaction amplified by food restriction.