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Book Chapter10.1007/978-3-0348-6416-9_18

Mating System and Reproductive Success in a Free-Living Population of the Bank Vole, Clethrionomys Glareolus

M. Sikorski,Anna M. Wójcik-1990-01-01-Birkhäuser Basel eBooks
14

TL;DRAbstract

The mating system in a free-living population of the bank vole (Clethrionomys glareolus) was examined by mark-recapture and electrophoretic techniques. All overwintered animals from a spring population were sexually active. The home ranges of females were mutually exclusive; they adjoined or overlapped, on average, with 12.5 males. The home ranges of males were larger and overlapped extensively. Mean litter size was 5.8 pups. The mean interval between litters was 19.2 days with a high synchrony in parturition. On the basis of genotypic analysis the paternity of 13 litters was determined. Multiple paternity was not observed. Three males out of ten had offspring simultaneously with two females each. Reproductively successful males were not distinguishable from all available males by age, mass, or body size. However, in the groups of males competing for one female, the successful males were recognizable from competitors by being older and having smaller home ranges.

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The mating system in a free-living population of the bank vole (Clethrionomys glareolus) was examined by mark-recapture and electrophoretic techniques. All overwintered animals from a spring population were sexually active. The home ranges of females were mutually exclusive; they adjoined or overlapped, on average, with 12.5 males. The home ranges of males were larger and overlapped extensively. Mean litter size was 5.8 pups. The mean interval between litters was 19.2 days with a high synchrony in parturition. On the basis of genotypic analysis the paternity of 13 litters was determined. Multiple paternity was not observed. Three males out of ten had offspring simultaneously with two females each. Reproductively successful males were not distinguishable from all available males by age, mass, or body size. However, in the groups of males competing for one female, the successful males were recognizable from competitors by being older and having smaller home ranges.

Keywords

Bank voleClethrionomys glareolusBiologyLitterMatingZoologyPopulationReproductive success

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