| Autor: |
Poissenot K; Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, UMR INRAE, CNRS, Université de Tours, IFCE, Nouzilly, France., Moussu C; Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, UMR INRAE, CNRS, Université de Tours, IFCE, Nouzilly, France., Brachet M; Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, UMR INRAE, CNRS, Université de Tours, IFCE, Nouzilly, France., Chesneau D; Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, UMR INRAE, CNRS, Université de Tours, IFCE, Nouzilly, France., Chemineau P; Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, UMR INRAE, CNRS, Université de Tours, IFCE, Nouzilly, France., Lainé AL; Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, UMR INRAE, CNRS, Université de Tours, IFCE, Nouzilly, France., Migaud M; Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, UMR INRAE, CNRS, Université de Tours, IFCE, Nouzilly, France., Charbonnel N; Centre de Biologie pour la Gestion des Populations, UMR INRAE, CIRAD, Institut Agro, IRD, Univ Montpellier, Montpellier, France., Keller M; Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, UMR INRAE, CNRS, Université de Tours, IFCE, Nouzilly, France. |
| Abstrakt: |
Most small rodent species display cyclic fluctuations in their population density. The mechanisms behind these cyclical variations are not yet clearly understood. Density-dependent effects on reproductive function could affect these population variations. The fossorial water vole ecotype, Arvicola terrestris , exhibits multi-year cyclical dynamics with outbreak peaks. Here, we monitored different water vole populations over 3 years, in spring and autumn, to evaluate whether population density is related to male reproductive physiology. Our results show an effect of season and inter-annual factors on testis mass, plasmatic testosterone level, and androgen-dependent seminal vesicle mass. By contrast, population density does not affect any of these parameters, suggesting a lack of modulation of population dynamics by population density. |
