Contrasts in body size and growth suggest that high population density results in faster pace of life in Damaraland mole-rats (Fukomys damarensis)

2018 ◽  
Vol 96 (8) ◽  
pp. 920-927 ◽  
Author(s):  
K.T. Finn ◽  
D.M. Parker ◽  
N.C. Bennett ◽  
M. Zöttl
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Population Density ◽  
Litter Size ◽  
Group Size ◽  
Growth Rates ◽  
High Population ◽  
Low Density ◽  
High Population Density ◽  
Population Densities ◽  
Study Sites

We studied the correlates of population density and body size, growth rates, litter size, and group size in Damaraland mole-rats (Fukomys damarensis (Ogilby, 1838)) at two study sites with contrasting population densities. Group size, litter size, and the probability of recapture were independent of study site. However, body size differed between the two study sites, suggesting that population density may affect life-history traits in social mole-rats. At the low-density site (0.13 groups/ha), individuals were significantly larger and subordinate males showed higher growth rates than at the high-density site (0.41 groups/ha), which may indicate that high population density in subterranean rodents enhances pace of life. The larger size of nonreproductive individuals at the low-density site could adapt individuals at lower population densities to larger dispersal distances.

scholarly journals Female monopolizability promotes within-community killing in chimpanzees

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael L. Wilson ◽  
Anthony Massaro ◽  
Emily Wroblewski ◽  
Deus Mjungu ◽  
Emily Boehm ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Population Density ◽  
Pan Troglodytes ◽  
National Park ◽  
High Population ◽  
Published Data ◽  
High Population Density ◽  
Gombe National Park ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Study Sites

Abstract Male chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) defend group territories and sometimes kill members of rival communities — a pattern often compared to human warfare1-3. Male chimpanzees also sometimes kill grown males from their own community4-9. Such within-community killings are puzzling, as they reduce the coalition strength needed to win inter-community contests5,10. Here we examine the contexts of within-community killing using data from two neighboring communities at Gombe National Park, Tanzania, as well as published data from other long-term chimpanzee study sites. At Gombe, more killing occurred within the smaller Mitumba community, where fertile females were more monopolizable. Attackers increased their share of mating and paternity following known and inferred killings. Other factors proposed to explain such killings, including the degree of intercommunity threat, male-biased sex ratios, high population density, or generalized aggression, did not explain the high rates of killing in Mitumba. Comparing across study sites, the best predictor of within-community killing was an index of the degree to which fertile females can be monopolized by the highest ranking male11. Our findings therefore support the hypothesis that within-community killing is a strategy to eliminate reproductive rivals that is more likely to pay off when fertile females are more easily monopolized.

scholarly journals The significance of biomass allocation to population growth of the invasive species Ambrosia artemisiifolia and Ambrosia trifida with different densities

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Wenxuan Zhao ◽  
Tong Liu ◽  
Yan Liu ◽  
Hanyue Wang ◽  
Ruili Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cluster Formation ◽  
Ambrosia Artemisiifolia ◽  
High Density ◽  
High Population ◽  
Leaf Biomass ◽  
Total Biomass ◽  
Low Density ◽  
Population Densities ◽  
Ambrosia Trifida ◽  
Short Period

Abstract Background Ambrosia artemisiifolia and Ambrosia trifida are globally distributed harmful and invasive weeds. High density clusters play an important role in their invasion. For these two species, the early settled populations are distributed at low densities, but they can rapidly achieve high population densities in a short period of time. However, their response to intraspecific competition to improve the fitness for rapid growth and maintenance of high population densities remains unclear. Therefore, to determine how these species form and maintain high population densities, individual biomass allocations patterns between different population densities (low and high), and plasticity during seedling, vegetative, breeding and mature stages were compared. In 2019, we harvested seeds at different population densities and compared them, and in 2020, we compared the number of regenerated plants across the two population densities. Results Most biomass was invested in the stems of both species. Ambrosia trifida had the highest stem biomass distribution, of up to 78%, and the phenotypic plasticity of the stem was the highest. Path analysis demonstrated that at low-density, total biomass was the biggest contributor to seed production, but stem and leaf biomass was the biggest contributors to high-density populations. The number of seeds produced per plant was high in low-density populations, while the seed number per unit area was huge in high-density populations. In the second year, the number of low-density populations increased significantly. A. artemisiifolia and A. trifida accounted for 75.6% and 68.4% of the mature populations, respectively. Conclusions High input to the stem is an important means to regulate the growth of the two species to cope with different densities. These two species can ensure reproductive success and produce appropriate seed numbers. Therefore, they can maintain a stable population over time and quickly form cluster advantages. In the management, early detection of both species and prevention of successful reproduction by chemical and mechanical means are necessary to stop cluster formation and spread.

scholarly journals Recruitment sex ratios in gray-tailed voles (Microtus canicaudus) in response to density, sex ratio, and season

2003 ◽  
Vol 81 (8) ◽  
pp. 1306-1311 ◽  
Author(s):  
Monica L Bond ◽  
Jerry O Wolff ◽  
Sven Krackow
Keyword(s):  
Population Density ◽  
Sex Ratio ◽  
Resource Competition ◽  
Sex Ratios ◽  
Female Offspring ◽  
High Population ◽  
Reproductive Value ◽  
High Population Density ◽  
Adult Sex Ratio ◽  
Sex Ratio Adjustment

We tested predictions associated with three widely used hypotheses for facultative sex-ratio adjustment of vertebrates using eight enclosed populations of gray-tailed voles, Microtus canicaudus. These were (i) the population sex ratio hypothesis, which predicts that recruitment sex ratios should oppose adult sex-ratio skews, (ii) the local resource competition hypothesis, which predicts female-biased recruitment at low adult population density and male-biased recruitment at high population density, and (iii) the first cohort advantage hypothesis, which predicts that recruitment sex ratios should be female biased in the spring and male biased in the autumn. We monitored naturally increasing population densities with approximately equal adult sex ratios through the spring and summer and manipulated adult sex ratios in the autumn and measured subsequent sex ratios of recruits. We did not observe any significant sex-ratio adjustment in response to adult sex ratio or high population density; we did detect an influence of time within the breeding season, with more female offspring observed in the spring and more male offspring observed in the autumn. Significant seasonal increases in recruitment sex ratios indicate the capacity of female gray-tailed voles to manipulate their offspring sex ratios and suggest seasonal variation in the relative reproductive value of male and female offspring to be a regular phenomenon.

Aggregations of masked shrews ( Sorex cinereus ): density-related mating behavior? / Agrégation de musaraignes masquées ( Sorex cinereus ): accouplement relatif à la densité de la population?

Mammalia ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 70 (1-2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas J. Maier ◽  
Katherine L. Doyle
Keyword(s):  
Population Density ◽  
Mating Behavior ◽  
High Population ◽  
High Population Density ◽  
Genetic Analyses ◽  
Highly Active ◽  
Sorex Cinereus

AbstractLarge aggregations of shrews have been reported and various explanations offered for this seemingly rare behavior; however, there has been little evidence to support any particular interpretation. We observed two small aggregations of highly active vocalizing Sorex cinereus while performing wildlife surveys in forested habitats in central Massachusetts, USA. These observations, in conjunction with a review of other reports, including genetic analyses, strongly suggest that such aggregations of adult Sorex are associated with mating behavior, more readily observed during periods of high population density. Published accounts of such behavior may be rare because primarily large aggregations have been reported; however, smaller breeding aggregations may be common.

Effects of population density on female and male burrow characteristics in the fiddler crab, Uca bengali Crane, 1975

Crustaceana ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 88 (12-14) ◽  
pp. 1283-1299 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fahmida Wazed Tina ◽  
Mullica Jaroensutasinee ◽  
Krisanadej Jaroensutasinee
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Population Density ◽  
Fiddler Crab ◽  
High Density ◽  
The Other ◽  
Low Density ◽  
Density Effects ◽  
Egg Incubation ◽  
Other Hand ◽  
Males And Females

We examined the effects of population density on body size and burrow characteristics ofUca bengaliCrane, 1975. We predicted that (1) males in high-density areas (HD) should be larger in size and build higher quality burrows than males in low-density areas (LD), and (2) HD females should be larger in size, but build lower quality burrows than LD females, as HD females can find higher numbers of good quality male burrows around them for breeding and egg incubation. Our results showed that males and females in HD were larger in size than those in LD. Since HD males were larger in size, they built higher quality burrows than males in LD. On the other hand, even though LD females were smaller in size than HD ones, they built higher quality burrows than HD females. Our results thus indicate that density effects both body size and burrow characteristics.

Analysis of steroid hormone levels in female mice at high population density

1998 ◽  
Vol 64 (4) ◽  
pp. 529-533 ◽  
Author(s):  
John C Chapman ◽  
John J Christian ◽  
Mary Ann Pawlikowski ◽  
Sandra D Michael
Keyword(s):  
Population Density ◽  
Steroid Hormone ◽  
High Population ◽  
High Population Density ◽  
Hormone Levels ◽  
Female Mice
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