Maternal Effects on Body Size of Large Insular Peromyscus maniculatus: Evidence from Embryo Transfer Experiments

1986 ◽  
Vol 67 (1) ◽  
pp. 37-45 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. L. Roth ◽  
M. S. Klein
2013 ◽  
Vol 280 (1766) ◽  
pp. 20131225 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandra Steiger

Despite a vast literature on the factors controlling adult size, few studies have investigated how maternal size affects offspring size independent of direct genetic effects, thereby separating prenatal from postnatal influences. I used a novel experimental design that combined a cross-fostering approach with phenotypic manipulation of maternal body size that allowed me to disentangle prenatal and postnatal maternal effects. Using the burying beetle Nicrophorus vespilloides as model organism, I found that a mother's body size affected egg size as well as the quality of postnatal maternal care, with larger mothers producing larger eggs and raising larger offspring than smaller females. However, with respect to the relative importance of prenatal and postnatal maternal effects on offspring growth, only the postnatal effects were important in determining offspring body size. Thus, prenatal effects can be offset by the quality of postnatal maternal care. This finding has implications for the coevolution of prenatal and postnatal maternal effects as they arise as a consequence of maternal body size. In general, my study provides evidence that there can be transgenerational phenotypic plasticity, with maternal size determining offspring size leading to a resemblance between mothers and their offspring above and beyond any direct genetic effects.


1974 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 47-65 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Wiener ◽  
Susan Hayter

SUMMARYBody weight was studied from birth to 5½ years of age and six linear measures of body size from birth to 4¼ years for sheep of five breeds, Scottish Blackface, Cheviot, Welsh Mountain, Lincoln Longwool and Southdown, and of crosses of these breeds with each other and with the Tasmanian Merino, but not in all possible combinations. The sheep were run as a single flock. Numbers ranged from 753 at birth to 150 at the end of the experimental period.There were marked differences among the breeds and crosses in all aspects of body size and some differences in rate of maturity. They also differed in conformation independently of body weight. Crosses of the hill breeds with the Lincoln and probably with the Southdown were heavier than the average of the parental breeds and larger in some linear body measurements from about weaning onwards. The weights of crosses of Blackface and Cheviot with Lincoln eventually exceeded those of the heavier parent of the cross. For the crosses among the three hill breeds only the Blackface Cheviot cross showed significant deviations from mid-parent values for weight and size.Maternal effects were important for all traits studied from birth to weaning and for weight up to a year old. In relation to mature size, Welsh dams produced the biggest and Lincoln the smallest lambs. The data did not permit Southdown maternal effects to be estimated. The effects of birth type and rearing were apparent for late maturing body parts up to a year old and for weight up to 3 years. Males, measured only from birth to weaning, were heavier and generally larger than females.Residual correlations between the various measures of size varied from 0·1 to 0·7.


1983 ◽  
Vol 64 (3) ◽  
pp. 540-543 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. S. Millar

2012 ◽  
Vol 107 (3) ◽  
pp. 521-528 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nurul Izza Ab Ghani ◽  
Gábor Herczeg ◽  
Juha Merilä
Keyword(s):  

Genetics ◽  
1994 ◽  
Vol 137 (3) ◽  
pp. 783-789 ◽  
Author(s):  
N L Jenkins ◽  
A A Hoffmann

Abstract In Drosophila, field heritability estimates have focused on morphological traits and ignored maternal effects. This study considers heritable variation and maternal effects in a physiological trait, heat resistance. Drosophila were collected from the field in Melbourne, Australia. Resistance was determined using knock-down time at 37 degrees. Drosophila melanogaster was more resistant than Drosophila simulans, and males tended to be more resistant than females. Field heritability and maternal effects were examined in D. simulans using the regression of laboratory-reared F1 and F2 onto field-collected parents. Males from the field were crossed to a laboratory stock to obtain progeny. The additive genetic component to variation in heat resistance was large and significant, and heritability was estimated to be around 0.5. A large maternal effect was also evident. Comparisons of regression coefficients suggested that the maternal effect was not associated with cytoplasmic factors. There was no correlation between body size (as measured by wing length) and heat resistance. Unlike in the case of morphological traits, the heritability for heat resistance in nature is not less than that measured in the laboratory.


2013 ◽  
Vol 127 (2) ◽  
pp. 131
Author(s):  
Garry E. Hornbeck ◽  
Dan Soprovich

Prairie Long-tailed Weasels (Mustela frenata longicauda) were live-trapped during fall 2005, 2006, and 2007 at Pine Coulee Reservoir and during fall 2005, 2008, and 2010 at Twin Valley Reservoir in southwestern Alberta. Our objective was to estimate the relative abundance of the Long-tailed Weasel and to estimate the relative abundance of small mammal prey. Body size and capture rates are reported for Long-tailed Weasels, and we report capture rates of small mammals. Annual capture rates for Long-tailed Weasels at Pine Coulee Reservoir were 0.44, 0.41, and 0.50 individuals per 100 corrected trap-nights (0.42, 0.38, and 0.48 individuals/100 trap-nights) in 2005, 2006, and 2007, respectively. No Long-tailed Weasels were captured at Twin Valley Reservoir. The probability of capturing zero Long-tailed Weasels at Twin Valley Reservoir was very low, assuming a true capture probability equivalent to that observed at Pine Coulee Reservoir. Deer Mice (Peromyscus maniculatus) were the most abundant small mammals captured in both project areas. Few shrews (Sorex spp.) and voles (Microtus spp.) were captured in either area.


1993 ◽  
Vol 71 (1) ◽  
pp. 125-129 ◽  
Author(s):  
John S. Millar ◽  
Taye Teferi

Winter survival of Peromyscus maniculatus in the Kananaskis Valley, Alberta, was examined in relation to sex, age, population density, size of family groups, body size, and residency status to determine the factors responsible for low winter mortality in northern populations. Young-of-the-year mice survived much better (≈ 50%) than old (> 1 year old) mice (≈ 25%) but no other factor had a significant effect on survival. We conclude that low resource competition may enhance winter survival in northern populations.


2012 ◽  
Vol 146 (2) ◽  
pp. 302-311 ◽  
Author(s):  
German Vargas ◽  
J.P. Michaud ◽  
James R. Nechols

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