Reproductive Success and Fitness of Male Common Voles (Microtus arvalis)
V. S. GROMOV
A. N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution, RAS, 119071, Moscow, Leninsky ave., 33
Keywords: Microtus arvalis, репродуктивный успех, темпы роста, индивидуальная приспособленность, Microtus arvalis, reproductive success, growth rate, fitness
Abstract
Pup survival and growth were monitored to determine whether paternal care potentially contributed to reproductive success. The subjects were 143 pups from 24 litters obtained from adult voles trapped in the wild. One group of litters ( n = 12, 72 pups) was raised by adult females without sires, and the other group of litters ( n = 12, 71 pups) was raised by both parents. Pup survival and growth rate were found to decrease in the presence of the sires especially those ones exhibiting a higher level of aggressiveness. These findings indicate a decrease of fitness of male common voles living in family groups.
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