Premium
Determinants of Competitive Success in Clethrionomys Rufocanus
Author(s) -
Ims Rolf Anker
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.144
H-Index - 294
eISSN - 1939-9170
pISSN - 0012-9658
DOI - 10.2307/1939872
Subject(s) - biology , ecology , sex ratio , life history , population , zoology , demography , sociology
This study introduces a new approach to identify determinants of competitive success in small mammals. An experimental population of Clethrionomys rufocanus consisting of laboratory—raised individuals with known origin and life history was introduced to a realistic competitive situation in the field. Successful females could be distinguished from nonsuccessful females on the basis of four individual attributes measured 25 d after they were released on the study plot, whereas males could not. The most consistent determinant of competitive success seemed to be the sex ratio of the litters in which females were born. Successful females originated from litters with a strongly female—biased sex ratio. These results are considered in the light of recent research on the consequences of prenatal conditions on female social behavior.