Work

Social organization and mating system of free-living prairie voles Microtus ochrogaster: a review

Year: 2005

Type: article

Abstract: We summarize the social organization and mating system of the prairie vole Microtus ochrogaster as determined from an extensive field study in east-central Illinois, USA. The fundamental social organization of M. ochrogaster consists of communal groups formed from an original male-female pair or single female (usually a survivor of a male-female pair) by addition of philopatric offspring and unrelated adults. Philopatric offspring comprise 70% of additions to the original breeding unit. In addition, most (80%) unrelated adults do not join a family group until at least two philopatric offspring have reached adult age. Thus, formation of communal groups is based on a high level of philopatry. Male-female pairs display traits associated with behavioral monogamy, including sharing a nest and home range, mate-guarding by the male, and paternal behavior (grooming, huddling, and retrieval of young). Members of communal groups also defend the group territory.

Source: Illinois Digital Environment for Access to Learning and Scholarship (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign)

Authors: Getz, Lowell L., McGuire, Betty, Carter, C. Sue

Institutions: Smith College, University of Illinois Chicago

Language: English

Topic: Animal Behavior and Reproduction

Subfield: Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics

Field: Agricultural and Biological Sciences

Domain: Life Sciences

Open Access status: green

Funders: National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Award: Social Organizaton and Population Regulation in Microtus

OpenAlex ID: W7015324114