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Infanticide in microtines: Importance in natural populations
1Department of Zoology, Scarborough College, University of Toronto, M1C 1A4, West Hill, Ontario, Canada.
Oecologia
|March 18, 2017
Summary
The infanticide hypothesis in microtines was refuted. Increased population density did not correlate with lower pregnancy success in four species of Microtus, challenging previous ecological theories.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Animal Behavior
- Reproductive Biology
Background:
- The infanticide hypothesis posits that infanticide increases with population density in microtines.
- Understanding population dynamics is crucial for microtine rodent conservation and management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To test the infanticide hypothesis in microtine rodents.
- To investigate the relationship between population density and reproductive success.
Main Methods:
- Developed an index of pregnancy success.
- Analyzed the correlation between population density and pregnancy success in four species of Microtus.
- Examined the correlation between instantaneous growth rate and pregnancy success in Microtus pennsylvanicus and Microtus townsendii.
Main Results:
- No negative correlation was found between population density and pregnancy success across four Microtus species.
- A positive correlation was observed between instantaneous growth rate and pregnancy success in M. pennsylvanicus and M. townsendii.
Conclusions:
- The infanticide hypothesis, as stated by Mallory and Brooks (1978), is refuted for the studied microtine species.
- Pregnancy success in some microtines may be influenced by growth rates rather than solely by population density.
