Alloparenting experience affects future parental behavior and reproductive success in prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster)

Abstract

Various hypotheses have been proposed to explain the function of alloparental behavior in cooperatively breeding species. We examined whether alloparental experience as juveniles enhanced later parental care and reproductive success in the prairie vole (Microtus ochrogaster), a cooperatively breeding rodent. Juveniles cared for one litter of siblings (1EX), two litters of siblings (2EX) or no siblings (0EX). As adults, these individuals were mated to other 0EX, 1EX or 2EX voles, yielding seven different pair combinations, and we recorded measures of parental behaviors, reproductive success, and pup development. As juveniles, individuals caring for siblings for the first time were more alloparental; and as adults, 0EX females paired with 0EX males spent more time in the nest with their pups. Taken together, these results suggest that inexperienced animals spend more time in infant care. As parents, 1EX males spent more time licking their pups than 2EX and 0EX males. Pups with either a 1EX or 2EX parent gained weight faster than pups with 0EX parents during certain developmental periods. While inexperienced animals may spend more time in pup care, longterm benefits of alloparenting may become apparent in the display of certain, particularly important parental behaviors such as licking pups, and in faster weight gain of offspring.

Exploration in a dispersal task: Effects of early experience and correlation with other behaviors in prairie voles ( Microtus ochrogaster )

“…Alloparental behavior decreases with age in females but not in males, young female voles (21–30 days) acted more parentally toward pups than older females, particularly those older than 45 days (age close to dispersal) (Lonstein and De Vries 2001; Stone et al 2010; Ophir, Wolff, and Phelps 2008). …”

“…Field studies on the social organization of natural prairie vole populations have revealed that approximately 70% of male and 75% of young female prairie voles remain in the natal nest until death as non-breeding alloparents, sacrificing their reproductive opportunities (Getz, Hofmann, and Carter 1987; McGuire et al 1993; Stone et al 2010). These animals are defined as philopatric.…”

Fathering in rodents: Neurobiological substrates and consequences for offspring

“…Stone and colleagues (Stone et al, 2010) paired male and female prairie voles with varying levels of alloparenting experience, and looked at offspring outcomes. Offspring of parents that had two litters of alloparental experience (either through two litters of experience for one parent, or one litter of experience for each parent) developed faster and displayed more male alloparenting themselves.…”

Is it all in the family? The effects of early social structure on neural–behavioral systems of prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster)

“…Various mammalian species that participate in cooperative breeding perform behaviors that range from feeding and allo-suckling to carrying pups (Russell, 2004). Other studies have previously observed alloparenting behaviors specifically in voles, such as huddling, pseudohuddling, time in/out of the nest, licking and sniffing, grooming, and retrieving pups (Stone et al, 2010, Keebaugh and Young, 2011). In addition to these behaviors towards siblings, carrying and side-by-side contact with unrelated pups have been observed in alloparenting tests (Roberts et al, 1996, Kirkpatrick and Kakoyannis, 2004).…”