Mating success of male bushy-tailed woodrats: when bigger is not always better |
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Authors: | Topping Michael G; Millar John S |
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Institution: | Ecology and Evolution Group, Department of Zoology, University
of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada |
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Abstract: | To determine the factors that regulate mating opportunitiesof male
bushy-tailed woodrats (Neotoma cinerea), we used stepwisemultiple
regression on measurable morphological and behavioraltraits. DNA
fingerprinting was used to determine the paternityof juveniles, allowing
mating success (the number of femalesmated with), and reproductive success
(the number of offspringfathered) to be quantified. Both measures of male
success weresignificantly related to the growth rate of males while
reproductivelyactive. The most successful males were those that had higher
growthrates, indicating that there is relatively little cost (weightloss)
associated with successful mating in male woodrats. Ourfindings demonstrate
that although this species is highly sexuallydimorphic, large body size does
not influence mating success.In addition, it appears that male mating success
cannot be predictedfrom morphological measures and may instead be determined
bybehavioral or olfactory cues. |
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Keywords: | bushy-tailed woodrats growth rate mating success Neotoma cinerea promiscuity reproductive success |
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