Breeding Suppression in Voles under Predation Risk of Small Mustelids: Laboratory or Methodological Artifact?

Oikos ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 82 (2) ◽  
pp. 365 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tapio Mappes ◽  
Esa Koskela ◽  
Hannu Ylönen ◽  
Hannu Ylonen
Keyword(s):  
Predation Risk ◽  
Small Mustelids ◽  
Breeding Suppression ◽  
Methodological Artifact

The impact of predation risk from small mustelids on prey populations

Mammal Review ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 30 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 147-156 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kai Norrdahl ◽  
Erkki KorpimAki
Keyword(s):  
Predation Risk ◽  
Small Mustelids ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Prey Populations

Influence of predation risk on recruitment and litter intervals in common voles (Microtus arvalis)

2013 ◽  
Vol 91 (5) ◽  
pp. 281-286 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Jochym ◽  
S. Halle
Keyword(s):  
Predation Risk ◽  
Indirect Effects ◽  
Reproductive Effort ◽  
Microtus Arvalis ◽  
Female Population ◽  
Risk Of Predation ◽  
Vole Species ◽  
Common Voles ◽  
Two Parameters ◽  
Breeding Suppression

Research on mammals and birds has shown that predation may have indirect effects on prey reproduction. Some of the indirect effects may give prey an adaptive advantage. Females of several vole species respond to the presence of predators from the genus Mustela L., 1758 with suppressed breeding; this response increases females’ chances of survival. However, breeding suppression is observed only in a certain part of the female population; it is unclear whether predation risk affects the remaining females. We investigated this in a capture–mark–recapture experiment on reproductive effort of female common voles (Microtus arvalis (Pallas, 1778)) facing simulated presence of mustelid predators. We measured two parameters: the number of recruits per litter and the litter interval. Compared with control populations, the number of recruits per litter was not affected, but the litter interval was longer in females facing mustelid risk of predation. This indicates that predation risk affects females in a more complex way than originally proposed: it induces breeding suppression in some, but also influences litter frequency in others. Our result suggests that predatory stress deregulates the estrous cycle. Decreased frequency of litters can be a viable antipredatory adaptation in iteroparous organisms.

scholarly journals Predation risk and mountain goat reproduction: Evidence for stress‐induced breeding suppression in a wild ungulate

2020 ◽  
Vol 34 (5) ◽  
pp. 1003-1014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frédéric Dulude‐de Broin ◽  
Sandra Hamel ◽  
Gabriela F. Mastromonaco ◽  
Steeve D. Côté
Keyword(s):  
Predation Risk ◽  
Wild Ungulate ◽  
Mountain Goat ◽  
Breeding Suppression

Elevated nest predation risk promotes offspring size variation in birds with prolonged parental care.

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gretchen F. Wagner ◽  
Emeline Mourocq ◽  
Michael Griesser
Keyword(s):  
Predation Risk ◽  
Reproductive Cycle ◽  
Perceived Risk ◽  
Nest Predation ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Size Variation ◽  
Egg Laying ◽  
Offspring Size ◽  
Natural Predation ◽  
Risk Spreading

Predation of offspring is the main cause of reproductive failure in many species, and the mere fear of offspring predation shapes reproductive strategies. Yet, natural predation risk is ubiquitously variable and can be unpredictable. Consequently, the perceived prospect of predation early in a reproductive cycle may not reflect the actual risk to ensuing offspring. An increased variance in investment across offspring has been linked to breeding in unpredictable environments in several taxa, but has so far been overlooked as a maternal response to temporal variation in predation risk. Here, we experimentally increased the perceived risk of nest predation prior to egg-laying in seven bird species. Species with prolonged parent-offspring associations increased their intra-brood variation in egg, and subsequently offspring, size. High risk to offspring early in a reproductive cycle can favour a risk-spreading strategy particularly in species with the greatest opportunity to even out offspring quality after fledging.

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