Data from: Alternative reproductive tactics in female striped mice: heavier females are more likely to breed solitary than communally
| Main Authors: | Hill, Davina L., Pillay, Neville, Schradin, Carsten |
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| Format: | info dataset Journal |
| Terbitan: |
, 2016
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: |
https://zenodo.org/record/4953183 |
Daftar Isi:
- 1. Alternative reproductive tactics (ARTs) are discrete reproductive phenotypes governed by decision rules called strategies. ARTs are fixed for life in species with alternative strategies, while tactic expression is plastic in species with a single strategy. ARTs have been investigated in males of many species, but few studies have tested whether the same theoretical framework applies in females. 2. Female striped mice (Rhabdomys pumilio) employ three ARTs: communal breeders give birth in a nest shared with female kin and a breeding male and show allo-parental care; returners give birth away from the shared nest and later return to it; and solitary breeders give birth away from the shared nest and do not return to the group. 3. Here, studying free-living female striped mice over six breeding seasons, we tested whether ARTs arise from alternative strategies or a single strategy. 4. We also asked to what extent stochastic extrinsic factors explain whether individuals become solitary rather than group living. 5. Females switched tactics, consistent with a single strategy, so we tested whether this represented a mixed or conditional single strategy. Only the latter predicts differences between ARTs in traits indicating competitive ability, such as body mass or age, before individuals adopt a tactic. We weighed females at conception when they were still group living to eliminate potential confounding effects of gestation and subsequent social tactic (solitary versus group living) on body mass. 6. Females that went on to use a solitary ART were heavier than those that became communal breeders and returners, in support of a conditional strategy. 7. Solitary breeders also arose through extrinsic factors (mortality of all adult female group members). They weighed less than females that became solitary while relatives were alive, but did not differ in body mass from communal breeders and returners. 8. We conclude that ART theory applies to both sexes, with female striped mice following a conditional single strategy. Future studies should consider the possibility that phenotypes that superficially resemble evolved tactics might also arise through non-adaptive extrinsic causes.
- Alternative reproductive tactics in female striped mice - primary field datastripedmouse_rawdata.csvMultiply imputed data set 1impMAT1.csvMultiply imputed data set 2impMAT2.csvMultiply imputed data set 3impMAT3.csvMultiply imputed data set 4impMAT4.csvMultiply imputed data set 5impMAT5.csvMultiply imputed data set 6impMAT6.csvMultiply imputed data set 7impMAT7.csvMultiply imputed data set 8impMAT8.csvMultiply imputed data set 9impMAT9.csvMultiply imputed data set 10impMAT10.csvTransitions between alternative reproductive tactics in female striped micestripedmouse_tactic_transitions.csvComparing solitary breeders and returners with communal breedersreturner_and_solitary.csvStriped mouse breeding synchronybirthsynchrony.csv