Competitive ability is a fast-evolving trait between house mouse populations (Mus musculus domesticus)

Frontiers in Zoology

Research

Miriam Linnenbrink¹ 

[1] Max-Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology, August-Thienemann Str. 2, 24306, Plön, Germany;

关键词: M. m. domesticus;    House mouse;    Populations;    Territoriality;    Competitive ability;    Fitness;    Semi-natural enclosure;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12983-022-00476-7

 received in 2022-04-04, accepted in 2022-11-08,  发布年份 2022

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundHouse mice are commensal animals with a nearly global distribution, structured into well differentiated local populations. Besides genetic differences between the populations, they have also diverged behaviorally over time, whereby it remains open how fast general behavioral characteristics can change. Here we study the competitive potential of two very recently separated populations of the Western house mouse (Mus musculus domesticus) by using two different approaches—one under controlled cage conditions, the other under more natural conditions in enclosures mimicking a secondary encounter condition.ResultsWe observe a clear bias in the competitive ability towards one of the populations for both tests. The measured behavioral bias is also reflected in the number of hybrid offspring produced in the enclosures.ConclusionOur data suggest that key behavioral characteristics with a direct influence on relative fitness can quickly change during the evolution of populations. It seems possible that the colonization situation in Western Europe, with a rapid spread of the mice after their arrival, would have favored more competitive populations at the expansion front. The study shows the possible impact of behavioral changes on the evolution of populations.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© The Author(s) 2022

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