101
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Kruczek M, Zatorska M. Male rank affects reproductive success and offspring performance in bank voles. Physiol Behav 2008; 94:611-5. [PMID: 18495182 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2008.04.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2008] [Revised: 04/07/2008] [Accepted: 04/09/2008] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Laboratory studies reveal that in several rodent species the females prefer dominant males as mating partners. Here we investigate the correlation between males' social rank and their reproductive success. Similar numbers of females mating with relatively more dominant or relatively more subordinate males produced a litter, and parturition took place 19-21 days after mating. Relatively more dominant males tended to sire more pups than did relatively more subordinates, but the mean number of offspring per litter did not differ significantly between the two groups. Significantly more pups fathered by relatively more dominant males survived to weaning than those sired by relatively more subordinate fathers. Dominance had a long-term effect on the reproductive activity of the offspring: their rate of sexual maturation was increased. In pups sired by a relatively more dominant father, the uteruses of females, and the testes and accessory sex glands of males, were significantly heavier than those of offspring born to relatively more subordinate males. Our results suggest that social rank is an important determinant of the reproductive success of bank vole males.
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Affiliation(s)
- Małgorzata Kruczek
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7, 30-387 Kraków, Poland.
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102
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Hamel S, Côté SD. Trade-offs in activity budget in an alpine ungulate: contrasting lactating and nonlactating females. Anim Behav 2008. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2007.04.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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103
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Conservative maternal care in an iteroparous mammal: a resource allocation experiment. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2007. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-007-0453-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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104
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Pettorelli N, Pelletier F, Von Hardenberg A, Festa-Bianchet M, Côté SD. Early onset of vegetation growth vs. rapid green-up: impacts on juvenile mountain ungulates. Ecology 2007; 88:381-90. [PMID: 17479756 DOI: 10.1890/06-0875] [Citation(s) in RCA: 189] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Seasonal patterns of climate and vegetation growth are expected to be altered by global warming. In alpine environments, the reproduction of birds and mammals is tightly linked to seasonality; therefore such alterations may have strong repercussions on recruitment. We used the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), a satellite-based measurement that correlates strongly with aboveground net primary productivity, to explore how annual variations in the timing of vegetation onset and in the rate of change in primary production during green-up affected juvenile growth and survival of bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis), Alpine ibex (Capra ibex), and mountain goats (Oreamnos americanus) in four different populations in two continents. We indexed timing of onset of vegetation growth by the integrated NDVI (INDVI) in May. The rate of change in primary production during green-up (early May to early July) was estimated as (1) the maximal slope between any two successive bimonthly NDVI values during this period and (2) the slope in NDVI between early May and early July. The maximal slope in NDVI was negatively correlated with lamb growth and survival in both populations of bighorn sheep, growth of mountain goat kids, and survival of Alpine ibex kids, but not with survival of mountain goat kids. There was no effect of INDVI in May and of the slope in NDVI between early May and early July on juvenile growth and survival for any species. Although rapid changes in NDVI during the green-up period could translate into higher plant productivity, they may also lead to a shorter period of availability of high-quality forage over a large spatial scale, decreasing the opportunity for mountain ungulates to exploit high-quality forage. Our results suggest that attempts to forecast how warmer winters and springs will affect animal population dynamics and life histories in alpine environments should consider factors influencing the rate of changes in primary production during green-up and the timing of vegetation onset.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathalie Pettorelli
- Département de Biologie and Centre d'études nordiques, Université Laval, Québec G1K 7P4, Canada
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105
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Ungerfeld R, González-Pensado S, Dago AL, Vilariño M, Menchaca A. Social dominance of female dairy goats and response to oestrous synchronisation and superovulatory treatments. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2007. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2006.06.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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106
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Ungerfeld R, Correa O. Social dominance of female dairy goats influences the dynamics of gastrointestinal parasite eggs. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2007. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2006.05.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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107
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108
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Abstract
Life-history theory predicts that as organisms approach the end of their life, they should increase their reproductive effort (RE). However, studies on mammals often find that measures of RE do not vary with maternal age. This might be because offspring have some control over energy transfer which may constrain adaptive variation in RE by mothers, particularly in eutherian mammals where placental function is primarily controlled by offspring. However, in marsupials, energy transfer is primarily by lactation and under maternal control, leaving marsupial mothers free to vary RE. Here, we provide the first analysis, to our knowledge, of age-specific RE in a marsupial, the common brushtail possum. RE, measured as the proportion of maternal mass lost during lactation, was strongly correlated with offspring mass as a yearling. Older females had higher RE, gave birth earlier in the season and were more likely to produce two offspring in a year. Females with high RE in one year were lighter at the beginning of the next breeding season. These results provide the clearest support yet for terminal RE in a mammal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanne L Isaac
- School of Tropical Biology, James Cook University, Townsville, Quenslannd 4811, Australia.
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109
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Santiago-Moreno J, Gómez-Brunet A, Toledano-Díaz A, Pulido-Pastor A, López-Sebastián A. Social dominance and breeding activity in Spanish ibex (Capra pyrenaica) maintained in captivity. Reprod Fertil Dev 2007; 19:436-42. [PMID: 17394791 DOI: 10.1071/rd06122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2006] [Accepted: 12/31/2006] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The relationship between ovulatory activity and social dominance was determined in 10 Spanish ibex females by recording their plasma progesterone and plasma cortisol levels. In a second experiment, the influence of dominance status on the establishment of pregnancy after introduction to males during late anoestrous (late October) was evaluated in another nine females. Dominance hierarchies were established in both groups by noting agonistic interactions between the individual females. Six high-ranking females of the 10 ibexes without male contact showed ovulatory activity with 1–3 progesterone cycles. The first progesterone cycle appeared in December (18 December ± 4 days). Dominance status correlated with age (R = 0.86, P < 0.01), bodyweight (R = 0.96, P < 0.001) and the number of progesterone cycles (R = 0.82, P < 0.01). Cortisol differences were associated with differences in reproductive function rather than social status per se. Introduction to males during late anoestrous brought forward the initiation of ovulatory activity (14 November ± 5 days) and resulted in three pregnancies in females with higher dominance ranks. The results suggest that social interactions are important in the control of ovulatory activity in the Spanish ibex.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Santiago-Moreno
- Departamento Reproducción Animal, INIA, Avda. Puerta de Hierro km 5,9, 28040 Madrid, Spain
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110
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Bowen WD, Iverson SJ, McMillan JI, Boness DJ. Reproductive performance in grey seals: age-related improvement and senescence in a capital breeder. J Anim Ecol 2006; 75:1340-51. [PMID: 17032366 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2656.2006.01157.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 97] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
1. Three hypotheses have been advanced to account for age-related improvement in performance: the selection hypothesis predicts improved due to the loss of lower quality phenotypes, the constraint hypothesis predicts individuals improve function, and the restraint hypothesis predicts younger individuals forego or reduce effort because of mortality risks. A decline in age-related performance (i.e. senescence) is predicted by mutation accumulation, antagonistic pleiotropy and disposable soma (wear and tear) hypotheses. 2. Using five measures of performance - birth rate, maternal and pup birth mass, pup weaning mass, weaning success and lactation length - we tested these hypotheses concerning age-related change in reproduction in 279 female grey seals (Halichoerus grypus), ages 4-42 years, over a 23-year period between 1983 and 2005 on Sable Island, Nova Scotia. These females produced 2071 pups. 3. Although body mass of primiparous females increased with age (4-7 years) birth mass of their pups did not, but pup weaning mass did. Second- and third-parity females of the same age as primiparous females gave birth to and weaned heavier pups. However, parity and age were dropped from models when maternal body mass was included. 4. The proportion of females giving birth varied significantly with maternal age, increasing in young females and then declining late in life. Weaning success rate also increased rapidly to about 8 years and subsequently declined in females > 32 years. 5. Generalized additive models indicated nonlinear changes in 3 day body mass (i.e. approximately birth mass) and weaning mass of pups as a function of maternal age, after accounting statistically for the effects of maternal body mass. Mixed-effects, repeated-measures models fitted to longitudinal data further supported the conclusion that pup birth mass and weaning mass vary nonlinearly with maternal age and indicated nonlinear changes in lactation duration. 6. We found some support for the constraint hypothesis, but our findings were not consistent with the selection hypothesis or the restraint hypothesis as the basis for improvement in reproductive performance. 7. Senescence was evident in multiple female and offspring traits, indicating the degeneration in function of several physiological systems as predicted by the disposable soma hypothesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- W D Bowen
- Bedford Institute of Oceanography, Dartmouth, NS, Canada
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111
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Alvarez L, Zarco L, Galindo F, Blache D, Martin GB. Social rank and response to the "male effect" in the Australian Cashmere goat. Anim Reprod Sci 2006; 102:258-66. [PMID: 17126504 DOI: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2006.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2006] [Accepted: 11/01/2006] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The present study was conducted to determine if the social status of Australian Cashmere goats affects their response to the male effect in terms of LH secretion, ovulation and expression of estrus. Australian Cashmere goats were kept isolated from the males during 5 months. The index of success (SI) of each goat was calculated to establish their social rank. In the first experiment, the ten most dominant and the 10 most subordinate goats were separated from the original herd and housed in two pens (5 dominant and 5 subordinate animals in each pen). An androgenized wether was then introduced into each pen. Luteinizing hormone (LH) was measured every 20 min from 2h before to 4h after introduction of the male in the goats of first pen and from 4 to 8h after male introduction in the second pen. In the second experiment, the remaining 50 goats were exposed in their original pen to two androgenized wethers. Their association index with the males (AI) was calculated for each of these 50 goats, and the intervals from exposure to the males to the onset of estrus and to ovulation were determined. During the first 4h after male introduction, the dominant goats had more LH pulses (0.65+/-0.06 compared with 0.3+/-0.09; P<0.05) and greater LH mean concentrations (1.79+/-0.14 ng/ml compared with 1.30+/-0.15 ng/ml, P=0.05) than the subordinate animals. Although not significantly different, the AI was 35% greater for high and medium ranking goats than for low ranking animals (0.031+/-0.004, 0.032+/-0.005 and 0.023+/-0.005, respectively, P>0.05). Although the number of goats ovulating in response to male exposure was similar between dominance groups (high: 100%, medium: 94% and low ranking: 92%), the high and medium dominance goats showed a greater incidence of expression of estrus than low-dominance goats (94.4%, 89.5% and 53.8%, respectively, P<0.05). It is concluded that the social rank of the Australian Cashmere goat influences their response to the male effect in terms of early LH secretion and expression of estrus.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Alvarez
- Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México, DF 04510, Mexico.
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112
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Taillon J, Côté SD. The role of previous social encounters and body mass in determining social rank: an experiment with white-tailed deer. Anim Behav 2006. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2006.03.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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113
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Social dominance correlates and family status in wintering dark-bellied brent geese, Branta bernicla bernicla. Anim Behav 2006. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2005.09.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
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114
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115
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Gendreau Y, Côté SD, Festa-Bianchet M. Maternal effects on post-weaning physical and social development in juvenile mountain goats (Oreamnos americanus). Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2005. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-005-0938-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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116
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Maternal quality and differences in milk production and composition for male and female Iberian red deer calves (Cervus elaphus hispanicus). Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2004. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-004-0848-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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117
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Langbein J, Puppe B. Analysing dominance relationships by sociometric methods—a plea for a more standardised and precise approach in farm animals. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2004. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2004.01.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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118
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Alvarez L, Martin G, Galindo F, Zarco L. Social dominance of female goats affects their response to the male effect. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2003. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2003.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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119
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Festa-Bianchet M, Gaillard JM, Côté SD. Variable age structure and apparent density dependence in survival of adult ungulates. J Anim Ecol 2003; 72:640-649. [PMID: 30893958 DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2656.2003.00735.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 146] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Large herbivores have strongly age-structured populations. Because recruitment often decreases as population density increases, in unexploited populations the proportion of older adults may increase with density. Because survival senescence is typical of ungulates, ignoring density-dependent changes in age structure could lead to apparent density-dependence in adult survival. To test for density dependence in adult survival, we used data from three populations that underwent considerable changes in density. Bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) on Ram Mountain, Alberta, ranged from 94 to 232, mountain goats (Oreamnos americanus) on Caw Ridge, Alberta, varied from 81 to 147, and estimates of roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) older than 1 year at Chizé, France, ranged from 157 to 569. We used recent developments of capture-mark-recapture modelling to assess the response of adult survival to changes in density when age structure was and was not taken into account. Survival rates were 10-15% higher during the prime-age stage than during the senescent stage for all sex-species combinations. When adults were pooled into a single age class there was an apparent negative effect of density on female survival in bighorns and roe deer, and negative trends for female mountain goats, male roe deer and male bighorn sheep. When age class was taken into account, there were no significant effects of density on adult survival. Except for male mountain goats, the strength of density dependence was lower when age was taken into account. In ungulate populations, age structure is an important determinant of adult survival. Most reports of density dependence in adult survival may have been confounded by changes in age structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Festa-Bianchet
- Groupe de recherche en écologie, nutrition et énergétique, Département de biologie, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada J1K 2R1
| | - Jean-Michel Gaillard
- Unité Mixte de Recherche No.5558 'Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive', 43 boulevard du 11 novembre 1918, 69622 Villeurbanne Cedex, France, and ‡Département de biologie et Centres d'Études Nordiques, Université Laval, Sainte-Foy, Québec, Canada G1K 7P4
| | - Steeve D Côté
- Unité Mixte de Recherche No.5558 'Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive', 43 boulevard du 11 novembre 1918, 69622 Villeurbanne Cedex, France, and ‡Département de biologie et Centres d'Études Nordiques, Université Laval, Sainte-Foy, Québec, Canada G1K 7P4
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120
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Voyer AG, Smith KG, Festa-Bianchet M. Dynamics of hunted and unhunted mountain goat Oreamnos americanus populations. WILDLIFE BIOLOGY 2003. [DOI: 10.2981/wlb.2003.053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Alejandro Gonzalez Voyer
- Alejandro Gonzalez Voyer* & Marco Festa-Bianchet, Groupe de Recherche en ecologie, nutrition et énergétique, Département de biologie, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, PQJ1K 2R1, Canada - e-mail addresses: (Alejandro Gonzalez Voyer); (Marco Festa-Bianchet)
| | - Kirby G. Smith
- Kirby G. Smith, Fish and Wildlife Division, 111-54 Street, Edson, AB T7E1T2, Canada -
| | - Marco Festa-Bianchet
- Alejandro Gonzalez Voyer* & Marco Festa-Bianchet, Groupe de Recherche en ecologie, nutrition et énergétique, Département de biologie, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, PQJ1K 2R1, Canada - e-mail addresses: (Alejandro Gonzalez Voyer); (Marco Festa-Bianchet)
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