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Reproductive success of male bank voles (Clethrionomys glareolus): the effect of operational sex ratio and body size

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Abstract

The operational sex ratio (OSR) may influence the intensity of competition for mates and mate choice and is therefore thought to be a major factor predicting the intensity and direction of sexual selection. We studied the opportunity for sexual selection, i.e., the variance in male reproductive success and the direction and intensity of sexual selection on male body mass in bank vole (Clethrionomys glareolus) enclosure populations with experimentally manipulated sex ratios. The opportunity for sexual selection was high among male-biased OSRs and decreased towards female-biased OSRs. Paradoxically, selection for large male body mass was strongest in female-biased OSRs and also considerable at intermediate OSRs, whereas at male-biased OSRs, only a weak relationship between male size and reproductive success was found. Litters in male-biased OSRs were more likely to be sired by multiple males than litters in female-biased OSRs. Our results suggest that the intensity and direction of sexual selection in males differs among different OSRs. Although the direction of sexual selection on male body mass was opposite than predicted, large body mass can be favored by sexual selection. Naturally varying OSRs may therefore contribute to maintain variation in male sexually selected traits.

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful to Aira Aalto, Johanna Alakerttula, Dorota Dudek, Saana Kataja-aho, and Marko Haapakoski for assistance in the field. Elina Koivisto, Marjo Pihlaja, Sebastian Steinfartz, and three anonymous referees provided helpful comments on earlier drafts of this manuscript. Konnevesi Research Station is thanked for excellent working conditions, sauna wood, and a cozy home. This research was supported by the Academy of Finland and a grant from the Marie-Curie Foundation to I.K. The work described in this paper was conducted in accordance with current laws in Finland.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Jyväskylä, P.O. Box 35, 40014, Jyvaskyla, Finland

    Ines Klemme, Hannu Ylönen & Jana A. Eccard

  2. Department of Animal Behaviour, University of Bielefeld, P.O. Box 100131, 33501, Bielefeld, Germany

    Jana A. Eccard

Authors
  1. Ines Klemme
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  2. Hannu Ylönen
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  3. Jana A. Eccard
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Correspondence to Ines Klemme.

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Communicated by K. Lindström

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Klemme, I., Ylönen, H. & Eccard, J.A. Reproductive success of male bank voles (Clethrionomys glareolus): the effect of operational sex ratio and body size. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 61, 1911–1918 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00265-007-0431-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00265-007-0431-1

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