Summary
Breeding units (occupants of a nest including at least one reproductive female) within two free-living populations of the prairie vole, Microtus ochrogaster, were monitored by live-trapping at nest during two 28-h periods each week from October 1980 to March 1984. Data are presented for 281 breeding units from all seasons, at high and low population densities and during breeding and nonbreeding periods. Fifty percent of the breeding units were monogamous (single resident reproductive male and female), 27% consisted of a single reproductive female with no resident adult male and 23% included more than one resident adult male and/or female (“complex units”). Monogamous units were present in the same proportions during breeding and nonbreeding periods. The number of monogamous units was significantly greater at low population densities than at high densities. During winter there were relatively more complex units and fewer single female units than during the rest of the year. Monogamous pairs remained together for an average of 42 days. Seventy-eight percent of these pairs were disbanded by the death of one or both members. There were few overlaps of the home ranges of adjacent breeding units. Significantly more nests were visited by nonresident males than by females, and the intervals between visits by males were significantly shorter than those for visits by females. Males visited single female units significantly more often than units with one or more resident males. Survival of juveniles was generally very low; 38% and 34% of young males and females, respectively, that were trapped survived until 30 days of age. Of young females remaining at the natal nest at low population densities, only 17.6% were reproductively activated; 77.1% of such females became reproductively activated at high densities. All young females that dispersed from the natal nest became reproductive.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Batzli GO, Getz LL, Hurley S (1977) Suppression of growth and reproduction in microtine rodents by social factors. J Mammal 58:583–591
Carter CS, Getz LL, Gavish L, McDermott JL, Arnold P (1980) Male-related pheromones and activation of female reproduction in the prairie vole (Microtus ochrogaster). Biol Reprod 23:1038–1045
Cole FR, Batzli GO (1978) A movement barrier useful in population studies of small mammals. Am Midl Nat 100:480–482
Dewsbury DA (1981) An exercise in the prediction of monogamy in the field from laboratory data on 42 species of muroid rodents. Biologist 63:138–162
Eisenberg JF (1966) The social organization of mammals. Handb Zool 8:1–92
Emlen ST, Oring LW (1977) Ecology, sexual selection, and the evolution of mating systems. Science 197:215–223
Facemire CF, Batzli GO (1983) Suppression of growth and reproduction by social factors in microtine rodents: tests of two hypotheses. J Mammal 64:152–156
Fitch HS (1957) Aspects of reproduction and development in the prairie vole (Microtus ochrogaster) in northeastern Kansas. Univ. Kansas Mus Nat Hist Publ 10:131–161
Fitzgerald RW, Madison DM (1983) Social organization of a free-ranging population of pine voles, Microtus pinetorum. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 13:183–187
Gavish L, Carter CS, Getz LL (1981) Further evidences for monogamy in the prairic vole. Anim Behav 29:955–957
Getz LL (1978) Speculation on social structure and population cycles of microtine rodents. Biologist 60:134–147
Getz LL (1985) Habitats. In: Tamarin RH (ed) Biology of Microtus. Special Publication Nr. 8, American Society of Mammalogists, pp 286–309
Getz LL, Carter CS (1980) Social organization in Microtus ochrogaster populations. Biologist 62:56–69
Getz LL, Verner L, Cole FR, Hofmann JE, Avalos D (1979) Comparisons of population demography of Microtus ochrogaster and M. pennsylvanicus. Acta Theriol 24:319–349
Getz LL, Carter CS, Gavish L (1981) The mating system of the prairie vole, Microtus ochrogaster: field and laboratory evidence for pair-bonding. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 8:189–194
Gruder-Adams S, Getz LLK (1985) Comparison of the mating system and paternal behavior in Microtus ochrogaster and M. pennsylvanicus. J Mammal 66:165–167
Hasler MJ, Nalbandov AV (1974) The effect of weanling and adult males on sexual maturation in female voles (Microtus ochrogaster) Gen Comp Endocrinol 23:237–238
Jannett FJ Jr (1978) The density-dependent formation of extended maternal families of the montane vole, Microtus montanus nanus. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 3:245–263
Jannett FJ Jr (1982) Nesting patterns of adult voles, Microtus montanus, in field populations. J Mammal 63:495–498
Kleiman D (1977) Monogamy in mammals. Q Rev Biol 52:39–69
Leman CA, Freeman PW (1985) Tracking mammals with fluorescent pigments: a new technique. J Mammal 66:134–136
Lidicker WZ Jr (1980) The social biology of the California vole. Biologist 62:46–55
Madison DM (1980a) Space use and social structure in meadow voles, Microtus pennsylvanicus. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 7:65–71
Madison DM (1980b) An integrated view of the social biology of Microtus pennsylvanicus. Biologist 62:20–33
McGuire MR, Getz LL (1981) Incest taboo between sibling Microtus ochrogaster. J Mammal 62:213–215
Orians GH (1969) On the evolution of mating systems in birds and mammals. Am Nat 103:589–603
Thomas JA, Birney EC (1979) Parental care and mating system of the prairie vole, Microtus ochrogaster. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 5:171–186
Webster AB, Brooks RJ (1981) Social behavior of Microtus pennsylvanicus in relation to seasonal changes in demography. J Mammal 62:738–751
Wilson SC (1982) Parent-young contact in prairie and meadow voles. J. Mammal 63:300–305
Wittenberger JF (1979) The evolution of mating systems in birds and Mammals. In: Marler P, Vandenbergh JG (eds) Social behavior and communication. Handbook of behavioral neurobiology, vol 3, pp 271–349. Plenum, New York
Wolff JO (1980) Social organization of the taiga vole (Microtus xanthognathus). Biologist 62:34–45
Zar JH (1974) Biostatistical analysis. Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs NS
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Getz, L.L., Hofmann, J.E. Social organization in free-living prairie voles, Microtus ochrogaster . Behav Ecol Sociobiol 18, 275–282 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00300004
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00300004