Abstract
In all 5 species, similar or larger proportions of males than females remained near the natal site as immature animals and both sexes moved similar distances from the natal site if they remained immature. In the mainland species of voles - M. californicus, M. ochrogaster, M. pennsylvanicus, M. townsendii - about twice as many females as males matured near their natal site regardless of whether the mating system was monogamous or polygynous, suggesting that females in both monogamous and polygynous species primarily compete for resources, and males compete for access to females. In the island species, M. breweri, and in enclosed populations (some with and some without an opportunity to disperse) of M. ochrogaster, M. pennsylvanicus and M. townsendii, similar proportions of males and females remained near the natal site as mature animals. Thus preventing or reducing dispersal eliminated the bias towards female philopatry. Nevertheless, in all of these species, mature males still moved about twice as far from the natal sites as females. Males in polygynous species from control populations, if they did mature within the population, tended to move farther from the natal site than females; males in the one monogamous species showed no such difference. Thus, though male-male competition may be a primary cause of male dispersal, inbreeding avoidance may be a secondary cause. The basic social organization in females (all species) is probably based on female kin cluster. -from Authors
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 655-673 |
| Number of pages | 19 |
| Journal | Journal of Animal Ecology |
| Volume | 56 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| State | Published - Dec 1 1987 |
| Externally published | Yes |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Animal Science and Zoology
- Ecology
Cite this
Natal philopatry and breeding systems in voles ( Microtus spp.). / Boonstra, R.; Krebs, C. J.; Gaines, Michael; Johnson, M. L.; Craine, I. T M.
In: Journal of Animal Ecology, Vol. 56, No. 2, 01.12.1987, p. 655-673.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Natal philopatry and breeding systems in voles ( Microtus spp.).
AU - Boonstra, R.
AU - Krebs, C. J.
AU - Gaines, Michael
AU - Johnson, M. L.
AU - Craine, I. T M
PY - 1987/12/1
Y1 - 1987/12/1
N2 - In all 5 species, similar or larger proportions of males than females remained near the natal site as immature animals and both sexes moved similar distances from the natal site if they remained immature. In the mainland species of voles - M. californicus, M. ochrogaster, M. pennsylvanicus, M. townsendii - about twice as many females as males matured near their natal site regardless of whether the mating system was monogamous or polygynous, suggesting that females in both monogamous and polygynous species primarily compete for resources, and males compete for access to females. In the island species, M. breweri, and in enclosed populations (some with and some without an opportunity to disperse) of M. ochrogaster, M. pennsylvanicus and M. townsendii, similar proportions of males and females remained near the natal site as mature animals. Thus preventing or reducing dispersal eliminated the bias towards female philopatry. Nevertheless, in all of these species, mature males still moved about twice as far from the natal sites as females. Males in polygynous species from control populations, if they did mature within the population, tended to move farther from the natal site than females; males in the one monogamous species showed no such difference. Thus, though male-male competition may be a primary cause of male dispersal, inbreeding avoidance may be a secondary cause. The basic social organization in females (all species) is probably based on female kin cluster. -from Authors
AB - In all 5 species, similar or larger proportions of males than females remained near the natal site as immature animals and both sexes moved similar distances from the natal site if they remained immature. In the mainland species of voles - M. californicus, M. ochrogaster, M. pennsylvanicus, M. townsendii - about twice as many females as males matured near their natal site regardless of whether the mating system was monogamous or polygynous, suggesting that females in both monogamous and polygynous species primarily compete for resources, and males compete for access to females. In the island species, M. breweri, and in enclosed populations (some with and some without an opportunity to disperse) of M. ochrogaster, M. pennsylvanicus and M. townsendii, similar proportions of males and females remained near the natal site as mature animals. Thus preventing or reducing dispersal eliminated the bias towards female philopatry. Nevertheless, in all of these species, mature males still moved about twice as far from the natal sites as females. Males in polygynous species from control populations, if they did mature within the population, tended to move farther from the natal site than females; males in the one monogamous species showed no such difference. Thus, though male-male competition may be a primary cause of male dispersal, inbreeding avoidance may be a secondary cause. The basic social organization in females (all species) is probably based on female kin cluster. -from Authors
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UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0023467189&partnerID=8YFLogxK
M3 - Article
VL - 56
SP - 655
EP - 673
JO - Journal of Animal Ecology
JF - Journal of Animal Ecology
SN - 0021-8790
IS - 2
ER -