Mating relationships and breeding suppression in the dwarf mongoose

Rood, Jon P.

doi:10.1016/s0003-3472(80)80019-4

Cited by 134 publications

(72 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…Socially-mediated birth synchrony in mammals is typically observed in large groups of female kin or temporary associations among non-kin females who help to protect or nurse young (Rood, 1980;Boinski, 1987;Rutberg, 1987;Ims, 1990;Mennella et al, 1990). Young born in synchrony with others in the social group may be more likely to receive allomaternal care (Boinski, 1987;Ims, 1990), or parasitize other mothers in the group (Packer, Lewis & Pusey, 1992).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Birth synchrony in greater spear‐nosed bats (Phyllostomus hastatus)

Porter

Wilkinson

2001

Journal of Zoology

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For many animals, strategies for optimally timing reproduction involve monitoring not only the physical environment, but also the social context. To explore the potential for social factors to modulate reproductive seasonality, the in¯uence of social and environmental cues on birth timing was examined in greater spear-nosed bats Phyllostomus hastatus. Births were observed or dated from pup growth curves in three caves on Trinidad, West Indies, over 4 years. Nearly 40% of the variability in birth dates could be explained by environmental factors because birth dates differed signi®cantly between years and showed consistent differences between locations that receive differing rainfall amounts. Nevertheless, the timing of births within caves and in captivity indicated that social cues also affect the timing and synchrony of births within female social groups. Within each cave, social groups differed signi®cantly in mean birth dates. Two groups of greater spear-nosed bats brought into captivity and maintained without seasonal cues initially exhibited less birth synchrony than wild groups, but birth synchrony did not decline over 3 subsequent years. Further evidence for the in¯uence of social cues on reproductive timing came from four females that were transferred between the captive groups and then gave birth in synchrony with their new group and out of schedule with their original group. Social cues in¯uencing reproductive timing are unlikely to be volatile chemicals or other passively transferred cues, given that frequent prolonged physical contact did not increase birth synchrony between adjacent wild groups. Cues are more probably transferred actively between female group members, perhaps by grooming, or through mating with one attendant male.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Birth synchrony in greater spear‐nosed bats (Phyllostomus hastatus)

Porter

Wilkinson

2001

Journal of Zoology

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“…There are a number of potential explanations for allolactation in singular breeders. Allolactation may, for example, provide allolactators with indirect benefits in closely-related groups; communal nursing is more common in species which nest with kin (Hayes 2000), and females often preferentially nurse related offspring over less or non-related young (Rood 1980;McCracken 1984;Pusey & Packer 1994). Additionally, investing in non-offspring may provide fitness benefits to allolactators through group augmentation (Kokko et al 2001).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Factors predicting the frequency, likelihood and duration of allonursing in the cooperatively breeding meerkat

2013

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Allolactation, the nursing of another female's offspring, occurs most commonly where several females raise young simultaneously in the same nest, but also occurs in singular breeders where non-breeders also lactate for the offspring of dominant females. In this study, we investigate the factors predicting the frequency of allonursing, whether or not subordinate female meerkats invest in allonursing, and how much time they invest. Around half of all litters born to dominant females were allonursed. Litters born later were more likely to be allonursed than those born early in the season. Group size, litter size, rainfall, and maternal condition were not associated with the likelihood that a litter was allonursed. Subordinate females were more likely to allolactate if they were (or had recently been) pregnant. This effect was stronger if they were also highly related to the litter's mother, suggesting that females may gain indirect benefits from allolactating. Older females and those that had recently returned to the group following eviction were also more likely to allolactate.Females nursed for longer periods if they were in good condition, and invested more time if the litter was large or if the litter mother was in poor condition. We suggest that allolactation generates a combination of direct and indirect benefits. ___________________________________________________________________________

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“…Sniffing of the female's genital region was a conspicuous precopulatory activity in small carnivores (Roeder 1979, Rood 1980. Considering these vocalizations, the increase of scent marking and the olfactory investigations, the mating seemed to present a certain homogeneity in mustelids.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Conspecific recognition and mating in stone marten Martes foina

et al. 1991

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Conspecific recognition and mating in stone marten Martes foinaThierry LODE Lodé T. 1991. Conspecific recognition and mating in stone marten Martes foina. Acta theriol. 36: 275 -283.The study of the mating of the stone marten Martes foina (Erxleben, 1777) revealed the importance of behavioural modifications which favour the intraspecific tolerance. The precopulatory activities affected the whole mode of communication. The frequencies of the male's olfactory investigation of the female's anogenital region and the male's abdominal scent marking increased at this time. Other signals like a particular muted vocalization, the cluck, or those which interested the general sensitivity like body contact facilitated the female's receptivity and the synchronization of behaviours. The male kept on the female with a neck bite which was similar to the newborn transport behaviour of the female. The male's obstinacy to obtain a positive response from the female seemed to determine successful mating.

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Mating relationships and breeding suppression in the dwarf mongoose

Cited by 134 publications

References 11 publications

Birth synchrony in greater spear‐nosed bats (Phyllostomus hastatus)

Birth synchrony in greater spear‐nosed bats (Phyllostomus hastatus)

Factors predicting the frequency, likelihood and duration of allonursing in the cooperatively breeding meerkat

Conspecific recognition and mating in stone marten Martes foina

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