Intraspecific variability in the social and genetic mating systems of prairie voles, Microtus ochrogaster

Intraspecific variability in mating systems has been documented previously, but there are few studies where investigators have used intraspecific comparisons to investigate the influence of ecological or demographic factors on social and genetic mating systems. We studied two populations of prairie voles, Microtus ochrogaster, one near Lawrence, Kansas, U.S.A., and the other in Bloomington, Indiana, U.S.A. We examined differences in spatial structuring of vegetation between sites, which might contribute to intraspecific variation in social and genetic mating patterns. Since space use is often related to the mating system, we calculated home range size of a subset of adult males and females in both populations and used live trapping to examine the number of same- or opposite-sex conspecifics sharing capture locations. We applied social network analysis to live-trapping data to quantify the number and strength of social ties with opposite-sex conspecifics. Genetic parentage analysis provided an estimate of the number of mates per individual. We found that space use and overlap with members of the same and opposite sex were best explained by effects of site and sex. The relative strength of social associations with opposite-sex conspecifics was best predicted by site, density and sex. The genetic mating system was best explained by population density. Although we cannot disentangle population density from ecological variables related to site (e.g. distribution of vegetation) that may have affected social monogamy in our study populations, our study shows that extrinsic variables do affect differences in social and genetic mating systems between populations.

► We studied two populations of prairie voles to see what factors influence mating systems.
► Site and sex best explained social monogamy.
► Site, density and sex best predicted the strength of social associations.
► Density best explained the genetic mating system.
► Extrinsic variables affect intraspecific mating systems.