Effects of litter size on pup defence and weaning success of neighbouring bank vole females
(2002) In Canadian Journal of Zoology 80(1). p.1-5- Abstract
- Reproductive success of territorial female mammals depends partly on their capability to defend their young from conspecific intruders. However, how this is related to the characteristics of females and their litter sizes is largely unknown. The defence activity of 25 female bank voles (Clethrionomys glareolus) in relation to the number of offspring was studied in a behavioural arena by manipulating litter sizes (-2 pups or +2 pups). Infanticidal male bank voles were used as intruders-predators. Moreover, the weaning success (weaned at least one offspring or none) of 15 pairs of neighbouring females was investigated in a large indoor runway system. In each pair of females, the litter size of one female was reduced (-2 pups) and the litter... (More)
- Reproductive success of territorial female mammals depends partly on their capability to defend their young from conspecific intruders. However, how this is related to the characteristics of females and their litter sizes is largely unknown. The defence activity of 25 female bank voles (Clethrionomys glareolus) in relation to the number of offspring was studied in a behavioural arena by manipulating litter sizes (-2 pups or +2 pups). Infanticidal male bank voles were used as intruders-predators. Moreover, the weaning success (weaned at least one offspring or none) of 15 pairs of neighbouring females was investigated in a large indoor runway system. In each pair of females, the litter size of one female was reduced (-2 pups) and the litter size of the other enlarged (+2 pups). Defence activity of females increased with the number of offspring and the mother's size. However, weaning success of neighbours was related only to their body mass, and litter-size manipulation did not affect weaning success. Present results indicate that, although bank vole females increase their defence intensity with an increase in the number of pups, the weaning success of neighbouring females may be primarily determined by their size and dominance rank. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/145644
- author
- Jonsson, P ; Agrell, Jep LU ; Koskela, E and Mappes, T
- organization
- publishing date
- 2002
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- in
- Canadian Journal of Zoology
- volume
- 80
- issue
- 1
- pages
- 1 - 5
- publisher
- National Research Council Canada
- external identifiers
-
- wos:000174021900001
- scopus:0036189065
- ISSN
- 1480-3283
- DOI
- 10.1139/Z01-199
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- additional info
- The information about affiliations in this record was updated in December 2015. The record was previously connected to the following departments: Animal Ecology (Closed 2011) (011012001)
- id
- fa0e00f8-f5c8-4d6b-9de4-9fa628ccdf23 (old id 145644)
- date added to LUP
- 2016-04-01 11:47:10
- date last changed
- 2022-01-26 18:13:27
@article{fa0e00f8-f5c8-4d6b-9de4-9fa628ccdf23,
abstract = {{Reproductive success of territorial female mammals depends partly on their capability to defend their young from conspecific intruders. However, how this is related to the characteristics of females and their litter sizes is largely unknown. The defence activity of 25 female bank voles (Clethrionomys glareolus) in relation to the number of offspring was studied in a behavioural arena by manipulating litter sizes (-2 pups or +2 pups). Infanticidal male bank voles were used as intruders-predators. Moreover, the weaning success (weaned at least one offspring or none) of 15 pairs of neighbouring females was investigated in a large indoor runway system. In each pair of females, the litter size of one female was reduced (-2 pups) and the litter size of the other enlarged (+2 pups). Defence activity of females increased with the number of offspring and the mother's size. However, weaning success of neighbours was related only to their body mass, and litter-size manipulation did not affect weaning success. Present results indicate that, although bank vole females increase their defence intensity with an increase in the number of pups, the weaning success of neighbouring females may be primarily determined by their size and dominance rank.}},
author = {{Jonsson, P and Agrell, Jep and Koskela, E and Mappes, T}},
issn = {{1480-3283}},
language = {{eng}},
number = {{1}},
pages = {{1--5}},
publisher = {{National Research Council Canada}},
series = {{Canadian Journal of Zoology}},
title = {{Effects of litter size on pup defence and weaning success of neighbouring bank vole females}},
url = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/2640934/625059.pdf}},
doi = {{10.1139/Z01-199}},
volume = {{80}},
year = {{2002}},
}