Lifetime Reproductive Success and Its Correlates in Female Eurasian Red Squirrels

Oikos ◽  
1995 ◽  
Vol 72 (3) ◽  
pp. 402 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. A. Wauters ◽  
André. A. Dhondt ◽  
Andre. A. Dhondt
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Success ◽  
Lifetime Reproductive Success ◽  
Red Squirrels

scholarly journals Attentive red squirrel mothers have faster-growing pups and higher lifetime reproductive success

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah E Westrick ◽  
Ryan W Taylor ◽  
Stan Boutin ◽  
Jeffrey E Lane ◽  
Andrew G McAdam ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Success ◽  
Individual Variation ◽  
Maternal Care ◽  
Wild Population ◽  
Lifetime Reproductive Success ◽  
Red Squirrels ◽  
Trade Off ◽  
Offspring Growth ◽  
North American Red Squirrels ◽  
Care Behavior

AbstractParental investment theory predicts that observed levels of parental care afforded to offspring are set by the benefits (to offspring quality and survival) relative to the costs (to parental survival or future reproduction). Although difficult to document in mammals, there is often substantial individual-variation in the amount of parental care within species. We measured the impact of individual variation in maternal care (“attentiveness” towards offspring or maternal motivation) on offspring growth and survival in a wild population of North American red squirrels (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus). We used latency to return to pups following a nest intrusion as a measure of maternal attentiveness to pups. We found this behavior to be repeatable within individuals suggesting this behavior is a personality trait or a “maternal style”. In this population, postnatal growth rate is important for pup overwinter survival. Pups from large litters grew faster if they had a highly attentive mother, indicating that maternal care behavior can mitigate the trade-off between litter size and offspring growth and potentially improve survival of pups. Additionally, more attentive mothers had slightly higher lifetime reproductive success than less attentive mothers. These results highlight important fitness effects of having a highly attentive mother and show that maternal care behavior can alter a fundamental life history trade-off between offspring quantity and quality.Lay SummaryIt pays to be attentive to your pups as a squirrel mom. In a long-term study of a wild population of North American red squirrels, we observed repeatable individual variation in maternal attentiveness towards offspring. Mothers who returned faster to pups following a nest intrusion produced faster growing pups and were able to produce larger fast-growing litters. Over their entire lifetime, attentive mothers also had more offspring recruit into the breeding population.

Survival and lifetime reproductive success in dispersing and resident red squirrels

1994 ◽  
Vol 34 (3) ◽  
pp. 197-201 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luc Wauters ◽  
Erik Matthysen ◽  
Andr�?A. Dhondt
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Success ◽  
Lifetime Reproductive Success ◽  
Red Squirrels

Survival and lifetime reproductive success in dispersing and resident red squirrels

1994 ◽  
Vol 34 (3) ◽  
pp. 197-201 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luc Wauters ◽  
Erik Matthysen ◽  
Andr� A. Dhondt
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Success ◽  
Lifetime Reproductive Success ◽  
Red Squirrels

The Breeding System of the Three-Spined Stickleback, Gasterosteus Aculeatus (Forma Leiura) With Reference To Spatial and Temporal Patterns of Nesting Activity

Behaviour ◽  
1993 ◽  
Vol 126 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 97-124 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sechi Mori
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Success ◽  
Gasterosteus Aculeatus ◽  
Nest Building ◽  
Lifetime Reproductive Success ◽  
Spatial And Temporal Patterns ◽  
Small Stream ◽  
Nest Distribution ◽  
Nest Sites ◽  
Sexual Characteristics ◽  
Individual Success

Abstract1) The breeding succes of three-spined stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus L., forma leiura) males in a small stream of the Tsuya River, Gifu Prefecture, Central Japan, was studied with reference to timing of nesting initiation, use of space for nesting and social interactions. The observations were made almost daily during March to early July 1988 along the shore at a distance of 1-2 m from the fish and nests. 2) All the males in an enclosed study pool were individually marked (99 males). Furthermore, a total of 67 females were marked and observed weekly. The males were individually observed and their agonistic, courtship and parental behaviour as well as their reproductive success were quantified. Reproductive success of individual male was measured as the number of nests built, the number of successful nests, the number of hatched fry per nest. Nest sites were categorized in six types (A-F) on the basis of the proportion of vegetation cover around the nest and distance from the shore. 3) Body size and environmental factors (water temperature, water depth, changes in water level) were not correlated with reproductive success. Flooding was not a major cause of unsuccessful nesting. The brightness of nuptial colouration at the onset of breeding correlated significantly with individual success. Individual variation in the development of secondary sexual characteristics such as a nuptial colouration may have an important consequence for the lifetime reproductive success of the individuals. There was no relationship between fish density and reproductive success. 4) All males that nested more than once had begun breeding early in the season. The sooner a male started nest-building, the more opportunities he had to complete breeding cycles. 5) After an unsuccessful nest, males were significantly more likely to move their nest sites than after a successful nest. The subsequent nesting cycle was not always successful. 6) There was variation in nest-sitc location. The spatial pattern of nest distribution was strongly related to the temporal pattern, because the first males which settled, more often built their nests at sites along the shore where the nest was covered on one or two sides by vegetation. The location of nest site was significantly correlated with reproductive success. When males nested in partly concealed places along the shore, they could sometimes obtain a high reproductive success irrespective of the date of breeding initiation. Thus, reproductive success was largely determined by the timing of nest-building and nest position.

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