REPRODUCTIVE ACTIVATION OF VIRGIN FEMALE PRAIRIE VOLES (MICROTUS-OCHROGASTER) BY PAIRED AND UNPAIRED MALES

Authors
LYONS SA GETZ LL
Citation
Sa. Lyons et Ll. Getz, REPRODUCTIVE ACTIVATION OF VIRGIN FEMALE PRAIRIE VOLES (MICROTUS-OCHROGASTER) BY PAIRED AND UNPAIRED MALES, Behavioural processes, 29(3), 1993, pp. 191-200
Citations number
24
Categorie Soggetti
Behavioral Sciences",Zoology
Journal title
Behavioural processes → ACNP
ISSN journal
03766357
Volume
29
Issue
3
Year of publication
1993
Pages
191 - 200
Database
ISI
SICI code
0376-6357(1993)29:3<191:RAOVFP>2.0.ZU;2-1
Abstract
Virgin female Microtus ochrogaster were exposed to paired and unpaired unfamiliar adult males in semi-natural arenas. Although females were reproductively activated by both types of males, more than twice as ma ny were activated by unpaired (51.6%) as by paired (18.2%) males. Our results suggest that, in natural populations of prairie voles, the pro portion of philopatric females becoming reproductive is related to the abundance of unpaired males within the population.