Density‐dependent changes of mating system and family structure in Brandt's voles (Lasiopodomys brandtii)
Abstract A mating system is an important life history for animals dealing with changing environments. Population density affects the plasticity of a mating system and subsequently the family structure of animals, but its impacts on mating systems and social structures are rarely investigated by usin...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wiley
2022-08-01
|
| Series: | Ecology and Evolution |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.9199 |
| _version_ | 1811316218368360448 |
|---|---|
| author | Erdenetuya Batsuren Xin Zhang Mingjing Song Xinru Wan Guoliang Li Jing Liu Shuli Huang Zhibin Zhang |
| author_facet | Erdenetuya Batsuren Xin Zhang Mingjing Song Xinru Wan Guoliang Li Jing Liu Shuli Huang Zhibin Zhang |
| author_sort | Erdenetuya Batsuren |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract A mating system is an important life history for animals dealing with changing environments. Population density affects the plasticity of a mating system and subsequently the family structure of animals, but its impacts on mating systems and social structures are rarely investigated by using molecular markers in field conditions. In this study, using microsatellite genetic markers, we examined the changes in the social and genetic mating system and family structure of Brandt's voles in the grassland of Inner Mongolia, China, under low‐, medium‐, and high‐density enclosures (each enclosure 0.48‐ha with 4 replicates.) We found, with the increase in population density of the founder voles introduced into the enclosure in early spring, both sexes increased their number of genetic mating partners, while males increased their social partners, resulting in a more promiscuous mating system. The number of genetic fathers and mothers per family, the number of social offspring per founder male or female, and the proportion of extra‐group offspring increased with increased density, indicating that the response of the family structure to density change, which is consistent with the change in mating system observed in our study. Both male and female voles had multiple mates, but males had a larger number of social and genetic mates, the number of social and genetic offspring, and the number of social and genetic families. Our study highlights the significance of density‐dependent plasticity of a mating system and family structure in affecting the population change of small mammals. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T11:45:12Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-753a6ff561c14b58ae710b490dfe6ed9 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-7758 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T11:45:12Z |
| publishDate | 2022-08-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ecology and Evolution |
| spelling | doaj.art-753a6ff561c14b58ae710b490dfe6ed92022-12-22T02:48:12ZengWileyEcology and Evolution2045-77582022-08-01128n/an/a10.1002/ece3.9199Density‐dependent changes of mating system and family structure in Brandt's voles (Lasiopodomys brandtii)Erdenetuya Batsuren0Xin Zhang1Mingjing Song2Xinru Wan3Guoliang Li4Jing Liu5Shuli Huang6Zhibin Zhang7State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing ChinaState Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing ChinaInstitute of Laboratory Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Comparative Medicine Centre, Ministry of Health Peking Union Medical College Beijing ChinaState Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing ChinaState Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing ChinaState Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing ChinaState Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing ChinaState Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing ChinaAbstract A mating system is an important life history for animals dealing with changing environments. Population density affects the plasticity of a mating system and subsequently the family structure of animals, but its impacts on mating systems and social structures are rarely investigated by using molecular markers in field conditions. In this study, using microsatellite genetic markers, we examined the changes in the social and genetic mating system and family structure of Brandt's voles in the grassland of Inner Mongolia, China, under low‐, medium‐, and high‐density enclosures (each enclosure 0.48‐ha with 4 replicates.) We found, with the increase in population density of the founder voles introduced into the enclosure in early spring, both sexes increased their number of genetic mating partners, while males increased their social partners, resulting in a more promiscuous mating system. The number of genetic fathers and mothers per family, the number of social offspring per founder male or female, and the proportion of extra‐group offspring increased with increased density, indicating that the response of the family structure to density change, which is consistent with the change in mating system observed in our study. Both male and female voles had multiple mates, but males had a larger number of social and genetic mates, the number of social and genetic offspring, and the number of social and genetic families. Our study highlights the significance of density‐dependent plasticity of a mating system and family structure in affecting the population change of small mammals.https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.9199Brandt's volesextra‐group matingfamily structuregenetic analysismating system |
| spellingShingle | Erdenetuya Batsuren Xin Zhang Mingjing Song Xinru Wan Guoliang Li Jing Liu Shuli Huang Zhibin Zhang Density‐dependent changes of mating system and family structure in Brandt's voles (Lasiopodomys brandtii) Ecology and Evolution Brandt's voles extra‐group mating family structure genetic analysis mating system |
| title | Density‐dependent changes of mating system and family structure in Brandt's voles (Lasiopodomys brandtii) |
| title_full | Density‐dependent changes of mating system and family structure in Brandt's voles (Lasiopodomys brandtii) |
| title_fullStr | Density‐dependent changes of mating system and family structure in Brandt's voles (Lasiopodomys brandtii) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Density‐dependent changes of mating system and family structure in Brandt's voles (Lasiopodomys brandtii) |
| title_short | Density‐dependent changes of mating system and family structure in Brandt's voles (Lasiopodomys brandtii) |
| title_sort | density dependent changes of mating system and family structure in brandt s voles lasiopodomys brandtii |
| topic | Brandt's voles extra‐group mating family structure genetic analysis mating system |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.9199 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT erdenetuyabatsuren densitydependentchangesofmatingsystemandfamilystructureinbrandtsvoleslasiopodomysbrandtii AT xinzhang densitydependentchangesofmatingsystemandfamilystructureinbrandtsvoleslasiopodomysbrandtii AT mingjingsong densitydependentchangesofmatingsystemandfamilystructureinbrandtsvoleslasiopodomysbrandtii AT xinruwan densitydependentchangesofmatingsystemandfamilystructureinbrandtsvoleslasiopodomysbrandtii AT guoliangli densitydependentchangesofmatingsystemandfamilystructureinbrandtsvoleslasiopodomysbrandtii AT jingliu densitydependentchangesofmatingsystemandfamilystructureinbrandtsvoleslasiopodomysbrandtii AT shulihuang densitydependentchangesofmatingsystemandfamilystructureinbrandtsvoleslasiopodomysbrandtii AT zhibinzhang densitydependentchangesofmatingsystemandfamilystructureinbrandtsvoleslasiopodomysbrandtii |