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Inhibition of infanticide after mating by wild male house mice
Abstract:
The effect of mating on the behavior of male house mice (Mus musculus) toward young has been examined in numerous domestic stocks of mice, and the somewhat contradictory results led us to examine the effects of mating on the behavior of wild male mice toward young. The wild mice were the F1-F4 offspring of mice trapped in Missouri. Virtually all wild males exhibit infanticide prior to mating, but virrually all wild males were inhibited from exhibiting infanticide 3 weeks after mating whether they were placed into the cage of their former mate and her litter or into the cage of an unfamiliar female and her litter, similar to the effect of mating on the behavior of CF-1 male mice toward young. In contrast, wild males that had exhibited infanticide prior to mating were inhibited from exhibiting infanticide 3 weeks after mating when placed with their former mates and their 2-day-old young but not when placed with unfamiliar females and their 2-day-old young. When wild males were tested for their behavior toward young using the procedure of placing a single pup into each male's home cage, mating did not result in an inhibition of infanticide (about 90% of the males exhibited infanticide). Cohabitation with a female without mating also did not influence the behavior of wild males toward young. Wild males that exhibited infanticide when placed with a lactating female produced their own young more rapidly than did noninfanticidal males, thus providing further support for the hypothesis that under some conditions, infanticide can be an adaptive trait.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Insights
Mating inhibits infanticide in wild male mice (Mus musculus) toward young, but this effect depends on familiarity with the female and pups. This suggests infanticide can be adaptive.
Area of Science:
- Ethology
- Behavioral Ecology
- Mammalian Behavior
Background:
- Conflicting results exist regarding mating's effect on infanticide in domestic mice.
- Wild male mice (Mus musculus) often exhibit infanticide before mating.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of mating on infanticide in wild male mice.
- To compare the behavior of wild males to domestic strains.
Main Methods:
- Wild male mice (F1-F4 generations) were tested for infanticidal behavior before and after mating.
- Males were exposed to familiar or unfamiliar females with litters, or pups in their home cage.
Main Results:
- Mating inhibited infanticide in wild males towards young 3 weeks post-mating, especially with familiar females.
- Infanticide inhibition was less pronounced with unfamiliar females.
- Mating did not inhibit infanticide when males were tested in their home cage with a single pup.
- Cohabitation without mating did not affect infanticide.
Conclusions:
- Mating significantly alters infanticidal behavior in wild male mice, influenced by social context.
- Infanticide may be an adaptive trait in wild mice under certain conditions, as males exhibiting it reproduced faster.