Sex differences in the consequences of maternal loss in a long-lived mammal, the red deer (Cervus elaphus)
Sex differences in the consequences of maternal loss in a long-lived mammal, the red deer (Cervus elaphus)
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DOI：
10.1007/s00265-013-1552-3
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发表时间：
2013-08-01
影响因子：
2.3
通讯作者：
Ruckstuhl, Kathreen E.
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Andres, Daniel;Clutton-Brock, Tim H.;Ruckstuhl, Kathreen E.
在一些灵长类动物中，母亲的存在会影响其后代的生长、生存和繁殖，但在有蹄类动物中尚未发现类似的影响。在这里，我们调查了母亲的存在对苏格兰朗姆岛马鹿（Cervus elaphus）种群的影响，这是一项长期的、基于个体的研究的主题。我们比较了表现指标，包括年轻雄鹿的鹿角生长和雌鹿第一次繁殖的年龄，以及母亲仍然活着的鹿与失去母亲的鹿（孤儿）的存活率。我们的研究表明，断奶前后的孤儿增加了男女自然死亡的风险。对于男性来说，在24个月后没有检测到母亲的益处，而对于女性来说，断奶后的益处持续一生。孤儿导致雄性身体状况受损，在16个月大的时候长角的可能性降低，而在雌性中没有发现生殖受损的证据。这些结果支持了断奶后母体关联影响后代发育和生存的断言。
In several primates, the presence of mothers affects the growth, survival and reproduction of their offspring, but similar effects have not yet been demonstrated in ungulates. Here, we investigate the effects of the mother's presence in a population of red deer (Cervus elaphus) on the Isle of Rum, Scotland, which is the subject of a long-term, individual-based study. We compared measures of performance including antler growth in young males and age at first reproduction in females and survival of deer with mothers still alive against those that have lost their mothers (orphans). We show that orphaning both before and after weaning increases the risk of a natural death for both sexes. For males, no maternal benefit was detectable past 24 months of age while, for females, post-weaning benefits continued throughout life. Orphaning resulted in compromised male physical condition as measured by a reduced probability of growing antlers by 16 months of age while no evidence for compromised reproduction was found in females. These results support assertions that post-weaning maternal associations affect the development and survival of offspring.