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Does density-induced stress promote density-dependent reproduction in root voles? Two field experiments
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  • guo-zhen shang,
  • Shouyang Du,
  • Yanbin yang,
  • Yan Wu,
  • Yi-Fan Cao,
  • Jianghui Bian
guo-zhen shang
Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Shouyang Du
College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Henan Institute of Science and Technology
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Yanbin yang
College of Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University
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Yan Wu
Hangzhou Normal University
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Yi-Fan Cao
Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences
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Jianghui Bian
Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences
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Abstract

Density dependence in reproduction plays an important role in stabilising population dynamics via immediate negative feedback from population density to reproductive output. Although previous studies have shown that density dependence is associated with strong spacing behaviour and social interaction between individuals, the proximal mechanism for generating density-dependent reproduction remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the effects of density-induced stress on reproduction in root voles. Founder population enclosures were established by introducing six (low density) and 30 (high density) adults per sex into per enclosure (four enclosures per density in total) during the breeding season from April to July 2012 and from May to August 2015. Faecal corticosterone metabolite (FCM) levels, reproductive traits (recruitment and the proportion of reproductive condition), and founder population numbers were measured following repeated live-trapping in both years. The number of founders was negatively associated with recruitment rates and the proportion of reproductive conditions, displaying a density-dependent reproduction. FCM level was positively associated with the number of founders. The number of founder females indirectly affected the proportion of reproductive females in 2012 and recruitment in 2015 through their FCM levels; the effect of the number of male founders on the proportion of reproductive condition was mediated by their FCM level in 2012, but the effect was not found in 2015. Our results showed that density-induced stress affected density-dependent reproduction and that density-induced stress is one ecological factor generating density-dependent reproduction.
10 Feb 2021Submitted to Ecology and Evolution
26 Jul 2021Submission Checks Completed
26 Jul 2021Assigned to Editor
27 Jul 2021Reviewer(s) Assigned
16 Aug 2021Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
18 Aug 2021Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
11 Nov 20211st Revision Received
12 Nov 2021Submission Checks Completed
12 Nov 2021Assigned to Editor
12 Nov 2021Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
16 Nov 2021Reviewer(s) Assigned
27 Jan 2022Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
20 Apr 20222nd Revision Received
21 Apr 2022Submission Checks Completed
21 Apr 2022Assigned to Editor
21 Apr 2022Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
26 Apr 2022Editorial Decision: Accept