Age and Seasonal Aspects of Sexual Differences in Social Vole, Microtus socialis, (Rodentia, Arvicolinae), in the South of Ukraine
Expression of sexual differences in social vole populations of virgin steppe reserve “Askania Nova” analyzed in the article. It is established that the severity of the sexual differences of value morphological features depending on the age of the animals and to a lesser degree on the season.
Збережено в:
| Дата: | 2013 |
|---|---|
| Автор: | |
| Формат: | Стаття |
| Мова: | English |
| Опубліковано: |
Інститут зоології ім. І.І. Шмальгаузена НАН України
2013
|
| Назва видання: | Вестник зоологии |
| Теми: | |
| Онлайн доступ: | http://dspace.nbuv.gov.ua/handle/123456789/109799 |
| Теги: |
Додати тег
Немає тегів, Будьте першим, хто поставить тег для цього запису!
|
| Назва журналу: | Digital Library of Periodicals of National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine |
| Цитувати: | Age and Seasonal Aspects of Sexual Differences in Social Vole, Microtus socialis, (Rodentia, Arvicolinae), in the South of Ukraine / I.A. Sinyavskaya // Вестник зоологии. — 2013. — Т. 47, № 4. — С. 365—372. — Бібліогр.: 21 назв. — англ. |
Репозитарії
Digital Library of Periodicals of National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine| id |
irk-123456789-109799 |
|---|---|
| record_format |
dspace |
| spelling |
irk-123456789-1097992016-12-15T03:02:48Z Age and Seasonal Aspects of Sexual Differences in Social Vole, Microtus socialis, (Rodentia, Arvicolinae), in the South of Ukraine Sinyavskaya, I.A. Морфология Expression of sexual differences in social vole populations of virgin steppe reserve “Askania Nova” analyzed in the article. It is established that the severity of the sexual differences of value morphological features depending on the age of the animals and to a lesser degree on the season. В статье проанализировано проявление половых различий в популяции общественной полёвки целинной степи заповедника «Аскания-Нова». Установлено, что степень выраженности половых различий величины морфологических признаков изменчива в зависимости от возраста зверьков и в меньшей степени от сезона. 2013 Article Age and Seasonal Aspects of Sexual Differences in Social Vole, Microtus socialis, (Rodentia, Arvicolinae), in the South of Ukraine / I.A. Sinyavskaya // Вестник зоологии. — 2013. — Т. 47, № 4. — С. 365—372. — Бібліогр.: 21 назв. — англ. 0084-5604 DOI 10.2478/vzoo-2013-0039 http://dspace.nbuv.gov.ua/handle/123456789/109799 599.323.42:[591.15:591.5] en Вестник зоологии Інститут зоології ім. І.І. Шмальгаузена НАН України |
| institution |
Digital Library of Periodicals of National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine |
| collection |
DSpace DC |
| language |
English |
| topic |
Морфология Морфология |
| spellingShingle |
Морфология Морфология Sinyavskaya, I.A. Age and Seasonal Aspects of Sexual Differences in Social Vole, Microtus socialis, (Rodentia, Arvicolinae), in the South of Ukraine Вестник зоологии |
| description |
Expression of sexual differences in social vole populations of virgin steppe reserve “Askania Nova” analyzed in the article. It is established that the severity of the sexual differences of value morphological features depending on the age of the animals and to a lesser degree on the season. |
| format |
Article |
| author |
Sinyavskaya, I.A. |
| author_facet |
Sinyavskaya, I.A. |
| author_sort |
Sinyavskaya, I.A. |
| title |
Age and Seasonal Aspects of Sexual Differences in Social Vole, Microtus socialis, (Rodentia, Arvicolinae), in the South of Ukraine |
| title_short |
Age and Seasonal Aspects of Sexual Differences in Social Vole, Microtus socialis, (Rodentia, Arvicolinae), in the South of Ukraine |
| title_full |
Age and Seasonal Aspects of Sexual Differences in Social Vole, Microtus socialis, (Rodentia, Arvicolinae), in the South of Ukraine |
| title_fullStr |
Age and Seasonal Aspects of Sexual Differences in Social Vole, Microtus socialis, (Rodentia, Arvicolinae), in the South of Ukraine |
| title_full_unstemmed |
Age and Seasonal Aspects of Sexual Differences in Social Vole, Microtus socialis, (Rodentia, Arvicolinae), in the South of Ukraine |
| title_sort |
age and seasonal aspects of sexual differences in social vole, microtus socialis, (rodentia, arvicolinae), in the south of ukraine |
| publisher |
Інститут зоології ім. І.І. Шмальгаузена НАН України |
| publishDate |
2013 |
| topic_facet |
Морфология |
| url |
http://dspace.nbuv.gov.ua/handle/123456789/109799 |
| citation_txt |
Age and Seasonal Aspects of Sexual Differences in Social Vole, Microtus socialis, (Rodentia, Arvicolinae), in the South of Ukraine / I.A. Sinyavskaya // Вестник зоологии. — 2013. — Т. 47, № 4. — С. 365—372. — Бібліогр.: 21 назв. — англ. |
| series |
Вестник зоологии |
| work_keys_str_mv |
AT sinyavskayaia ageandseasonalaspectsofsexualdifferencesinsocialvolemicrotussocialisrodentiaarvicolinaeinthesouthofukraine |
| first_indexed |
2025-07-07T23:40:31Z |
| last_indexed |
2025-07-07T23:40:31Z |
| _version_ |
1837033462643556352 |
| fulltext |
UDC 599.323.42:[591.15:591.5]
AGE AND SEASONAL ASPECTS OF SEXUAL DIFFERENCES
IN SOCIAL VOLE, MICROTUS SOCIALIS (RODENTIA,
ARVICOLINAE), IN THE SOUTH OF UKRAINE
I. Sinyavskaya
Schmalhausen Institute of Zoology NAS of Ukraine
vul. B. Khmelnitskogo, 15, Kyiv, 01601 Ukraine
E-mail: synyavska@ua.fm
Age and Seasonal Aspects of Sexual Differences in Social Vole, Microtus socialis, (Rodentia, Arvicolinae),
in the South of Ukraine. Sinyavskaya I. A. – Expression of sexual differences in social vole populations
of virgin steppe reserve “Askania Nova” analyzed in the article. It is established that the severity of the
sexual differences of value morphological features depending on the age of the animals and to a lesser
degree on the season.
Ke y wo r d s: Microtus socialis, age variability, sexual differences, seasonal variation.
Âîçðàñòíîé è ñåçîííûé àñïåêòû ïîëîâûõ ðàçëè÷èé ó îáùåñòâåííîé ïîë¸âêè, Microtus socialis
(Rodentia, Arvicolinae), íà þãå Óêðàèíû. Ñèíÿâñêàÿ È. À. – Â ñòàòüå ïðîàíàëèçèðîâàíî ïðîÿâëå-
íèå ïîëîâûõ ðàçëè÷èé â ïîïóëÿöèè îáùåñòâåííîé ïîë¸âêè öåëèííîé ñòåïè çàïîâåäíèêà
«Àñêàíèÿ-Íîâà». Óñòàíîâëåíî, ÷òî ñòåïåíü âûðàæåííîñòè ïîëîâûõ ðàçëè÷èé âåëè÷èíû ìîðôî-
ëîãè÷åñêèõ ïðèçíàêîâ èçìåí÷èâà â çàâèñèìîñòè îò âîçðàñòà çâåðüêîâ è â ìåíüøåé ñòåïåíè îò
ñåçîíà.
Êëþ÷åâûå ñ ëîâ à: Microtus socialis, âîçðàñòíàÿ èçìåí÷èâîñòü, ïîëîâûå ðàçëè÷èÿ, ñåçîííàÿ
èçìåí÷èâîñòü.
Introduction
Sexual differences obviously associated with differences in the size and proportions of the body and in
the growth rate of animals of both sexes (Kaneko, 1978; Grulich, 1987; Heske, Ostfeld, 1990; Boonstra et.
al., 1993; Stamps, 1993; Meyer et al, 1996; Schulte-Hostedde, Millar, 2000; Lammers et al., 2001; Isaac,
2005;). In most murine rodent species sexual differences, if detected, can be expressed in a bigger males size
(Ralls, 1977 Panteleev et al, 1990; Markowski, Ostbye, 1992) or, conversely, females (Bank vole, 1981;
Lammers et al., 2001). In some studies the differences were not registered at all (Hammond et al., 1999).
In murine rodents sexual differences of the majority morphological characters are slightly expressed
(Panteleev et al, 1990; Meyer et al, 1996; Hammond et al., 1999) and often ignores in the practice of their
comparative morphological studies. Meanwhile, the literature accumulated a lot of evidences of the specifici-
ty of sexual differences in different species (Kaneko, 1978; Grulich, 1987; Heske, Ostfeld, 1990; Boonstra et.
al., 1993; Stamps, 1993; Meyer et al, 1996; Schulte-Hostedde, Millar, 2000; Lammers et al., 2001; Vasiliev
et al, 2004) in different populations of the same species (Bergstrom, 1984; Grulich, 1987, Meyer et al, 1996;
Vasil’ev et al, 2004), and depending on the season and population dynamics (Ivanter et al, 1985; Davis-Born,
Wollf, 2000; Faleev, Yepifantseva, 2000; Vasil’ev et al, 2003). In this article, we discussed the seasonal and
age aspects of sexual differences in social voles in southern Ukraine.
Material and methods
The study is based on the data on Microtus socialis morphology, collected in different seasons of 1973
in the expedition of the Department of Population Ecology of Schmalhausen Institute of Zoology NAS of
Ukraine on the territory of the virgin steppe reserve “Askania-Nova”. Totally, 644 specimens of M. socialis
of different age were studied. The relative age of voles was estimated according to the degree of skull sculp-
turing (Emelyanov, Zolotukhina, 1975) and the data on vole’s body length and mass. As a result of the per-
formed analysis, the animals were divided into three age groups: juveniles, subadults and adults.
15 standard morphometric characters (body length – L, tail length – Ca, foot length – Pl, ear
length – Au, body weight – W, spleen – Lie, adrenal glands – Adr, kidneys – Ren, intestines – Int,
Vestnik zoologii, 47(4): 365—372, 2013
DOI 10.2478/vzoo-2013-0039
Unauthenticated
Download Date | 12/13/16 7:58 PM
liver – Hep, heart – Cor, lungs – Pul and thymus – Th) were analyzed. The weight of the kidneys and
adrenal glands was considered separately from the left and from the right sides as the individual indices. For
studying the structure differences of morphological traits canonical discriminant analysis was carried out.
Above mentioned morphological features were used as the independent variables, sex and age were used as
the dependent variable. Seasonal differences between samples of the same age and gender were assessed using
Tukey HSD test. All calculations were performed using the statistical package Statistica for Windows, version
6.0 (StatSoft, 2001).
Results and their discussion
According to the results of the discriminant analysis first two canonical roots
describe more than 90 % of the total variance of 15 morphologial features in seasonal
samples of 1973 (phase of peak abundance of social voles).
The first canonical root describes the variability of the overall size (L, W) and
weight of adrenal glands, kidneys, intestines, liver and heart (winter – χ2 = 223.83 p <
0.001; spring – χ2 = 281.50 p < 0.001, summer – χ2 = 195.74 p < 0.001; autumn –
χ2 = 201.04 p < 0.001) in all four seasonal samples. The second canonical root illus-
trates differences in body proportions (winter – χ2 = 54.85 p < 0.05; spring – χ2 =
90.69 p < 0.001; summer – χ2 = 70.23 p < 0.01; autumn – χ2 = 36.55 p > 0.05). The
length of the foot, the weight of the adrenal glands, and thymus give the maximal load-
ings on this component (table 1). Character of seasonal samples distribution in the
space of values of the 1st and 2nd canonical roots demonstrated the increase of sexual
differences with the age (fig. 1 ad; table. 3—6.). Magnitude of sexual differences on
individual characters changes depending on the season.
366 I. Sinyavskaya
Ta b l e 1. Load of morphological features on the first and second canonical roots
Ò à á ëèö à 1. Íàãðóçêè ìîôîëîãè÷åñêèõ ïðèçíàêîâ íà ïåðâóþ è âòîðóþ êàíîíè÷åñêèå îñè
Feature
Winter Spring Summer Autumn
Root 1 Root 2 Root 1 Root 2 Root 1 Root 2 Root 1 Root 2
L -0.726 -0.111 -0.506 -0.121 -0.647 0.462 -0.755 -0.037
Ca -0.359 0.034 -0.292 -0.268 -0.390 0.495 -0.427 0.042
Pl -0.189 -0.264 -0.130 0.108 -0.265 0.048 -0.207 -0.261
Au -0.379 -0.097 -0.236 -0.033 -0.344 0.333 -0.383 -0.010
W -0.693 -0.320 -0.599 0.004 -0.687 0.424 -0.695 -0.136
Lie -0.164 0.038 -0.120 0.026 -0.147 0.178 -0.131 -0.220
s. Adr -0.522 0.241 -0.535 -0.495 -0.367 0.573 -0.667 0.244
d. Adr -0.470 0.228 -0.475 -0.393 -0.370 0.571 -0.635 0.219
s. Ren -0.503 -0.146 -0.535 0.040 -0.480 0.325 -0.648 0.053
d. Ren -0.494 -0.131 -0.523 0.028 -0.568 0.326 -0.628 0.071
Int -0.488 0.042 -0.328 -0.256 -0.385 0.528 -0.466 0.092
Hep -0.517 0.165 -0.524 -0.299 -0.491 0.634 -0.573 0.231
Th 0.349 0.189 0.275 0.044 0.278 -0.159 0.421 -0.088
Cor -0.609 -0.031 -0.511 -0.130 -0.644 0.482 -0.688 -0.041
Pul -0.532 -0.092 -0.459 -0.132 -0.504 0.385 -0.507 -0.032
% of total variance 78.83 18.06 84.19 12.12 78.72 15.51 75.68 21.34
Ta b l e 2. Distinction between social vole males and female (SqMD) of different age in 4 seasonal samples in
1973
Òà á ëèö à 2. Ðàçëè÷èÿ ìåæäó ñàìöàìè è ñàìêàìè (SqMD) îáùåñòâåííîé ïîë¸âêè ðàçíîãî âîçðàñòà
4 ñåçîííûõ âûáîðîê 1973 ã.
Season Juvenis Subadultus Adultus
Winter 0.42 12.74 19.82
Spring 5.04 15.91 24.19
Summer 1.74 20.75 48.98
Autumn 0.71 11.17 24.21
Unauthenticated
Download Date | 12/13/16 7:58 PM
367Age and Seasonal Aspects Sexual Differences in Social vole, Microtus socialis...
Ta b l e 3. The average value of morphological features in males and females of the winter sampling social vole
Ò à á ëèö à 3. Ñðåäíÿÿ âåëè÷èíà ìîðôîëîãè÷åñêèõ ïðèçíàêîâ ó ñàìöîâ è ñàìîê çèìíåé âûáîðêè
îáùåñòâåííîé ïîë¸âêè
No t e. M – mean value, SE — standard error.
Feature
Females Males
juvenis
(n = 20)
subadultus
(n = 23)
adultus
(n = 29)
juvenis
(n = 31)
subadultus
(n = 9)
adultus
(n = 28)
M ± SE M ± SE M ± SE M ± SE M ± SE M ± SE
L 74.55 ± 1.34 93.98 ± 0.72 100.93 ± 0.54 73.50 ± 1.25 92.78 ± 1.26 99.73 ± 0.67
Ca 17.68 ± 0.27 21.20 ± 0.38 22.33 ± 0.32 17.40 ± 0.27 21.28 ± 0.75 21.41 ± 0.31
Pl 14.48 ± 0.11 15.02 ± 0.09 14.91 ± 0.09 14.47 ± 0.09 15.39 ± 0.14 15.43 ± 0.08
Au 6.85 ± 0.14 7.91 ± 0.09 8.24 ± 0.07 6.84 ± 0.09 7.94 ± 0.13 8.27 ± 0.09
W 12.88 ± 0.61 24.13 ± 0.53 27.63 ± 0.49 12.66 ± 0.61 24.70 ± 1.00 29.95 ± 0.63
Lie 39.60 ± 3.52 82.91 ± 6.65 75.34 ± 4.47 46.74 ± 3.70 74.72 ± 8.89 70.95 ± 5.95
s. Adr 3.38 ± 0.29 7.37 ± 0.28 8.47 ± 0.29 2.98 ± 0.14 5.33 ± 0.34 6.70 ± 0.17
d. Adr 2.88 ± 0.22 6.28 ± 0.24 7.07 ± 0.26 2.63 ± 0.16 4.67 ± 0.31 5.59 ± 0.17
s. Ren 122.10 ± 5.75 190.87 ± 4.11 231.03 ± 6.13 121.16 ± 4.96 214.61 ±
13.56
228.75 ± 4.55
d. Ren 123.65 ± 5.56 193.65 ± 3.97 233.02 ± 6.33 123.40 ± 5.18 218.17 ±
14.78
229.16 ± 4.19
Int 3.34 ± 0.14 6.26 ± 0.16 6.85 ± 0.25 3.31 ± 0.14 5.62 ± 0.25 6.32 ± 0.15
Hep 768.25 ±
40.38
1650.00 ±
54.84
1997.24 ±
57.94
744.19 ±
36.01
1455.56 ±
52.47
1610.00 ±
44.66
Th 27.48 ± 2.09 16.54 ± 1.66 8.03 ± 0.80 31.47 ± 2.04 20.00 ± 5.64 3.82 ± 0.52
Cor 91.48 ± 4.64 153.37 ± 4.01 184.48 ± 3.21 87.77 ± 4.19 154.39 ± 5.12 172.18 ± 3.01
Pul 101.35 ± 3.47 154.17 ± 2.47 167.31 ± 3.34 98.18 ± 3.42 155.06 ±5.04 165.84 ± 3.29
Ta b l e 4. The average value of morphological features in males and females of the spring sampling of social
vole
Ò à á ëèö à 4. Ñðåäíÿÿ âåëè÷èíà ìîðôîëîãè÷åñêèõ ïðèçíàêîâ ó ñàìöîâ è ñàìîê âåñåííåé âûáîðêè
îáùåñòâåííîé ïîë¸âêè
No t e. M – mean value, SE — standard error.
Feature
Females Males
juvenis
(n = 39)
subadultus
(n = 16)
adultus
(n = 15)
juvenis
(n = 93)
subadultus
(n = 9)
adultus
(n = 9)
M ± SE M ± SE M ± SE M ± SE M ± SE M ± SE
L 76.69 ±1.17 97.34 ± 0.90 102.60 ± 0.49 74.58 ± 0.63 94.61 ± 1.08 103.44 ± 1.12
Ca 18.68 ± 0.34 22.94 ± 0.51 24.23 ± 0.46 18.19 ± 0.17 21.17 ± 0.52 21.78 ± 0.55
Pl 14.71 ± 0.10 15.00 ± 0.11 15.43 ± 0.11 14.77 ± 0.07 15.39 ± 0.11 15.78 ± 0.15
Au 7.14 ± 0.10 8.06 ± 0.12 8.50 ± 0.10 7.10 ± 0.06 8.11 ± 0.11 8.50 ± 0.19
W 14.10 ± 0.53 25.28 ± 0.69 28.86 ± 0.67 12.89 ± 0.30 25.56 ± 0.78 32.04 ± 0.83
Lie 46.28 ± 3.21 67.66 ± 4.17 96.60 ± 6.83 51.35 ± 3.89 97.72 ± 16.17 87.89 ± 6.41
s. Adr 3.88 ± 0.17 8.06 ± 0.43 9.13 ± 0.44 2.90 ± 0.07 6.22 ± 0.29 6.83 ± 0.26
d. Adr 3.32 ± 0.15 6.73 ± 0.29 7.63 ± 0.46 2.53 ± 0.07 5.50 ± 0.42 5.94 ± 0.41
s. Ren 128.47 ± 4.05 213.97 ± 6.87 242.43 ± 6.85 118.74 ± 2.58 223.22 ± 9.25 272.72 ±
10.80
d. Ren 131.72 ± 4.25 214.28 ± 7.33 248.97 ± 5.22 121.81 ± 2.66 225.39 ± 8.52 273.22 ±
12.15
Int 3.72 ± 0.12 6.36 ± 0.25 5.63 ± 0.24 3.31 ± 0.07 5.16 ± 0.30 5.46 ± 0.40
Hep 855.13 ±
36.80
1683.13 ±
56.01
2046.67 ±
80.02
771.34 ±
20.63
1467.78 ±
66.99
1734.44 ±
79.29
Th 29.27 ± 1.78 8.88 ± 1.15 4.83 ± 1.01 30.54 ± 1.24 6.83 ± 1.04 3.89 ± 0.81
Cor 93.77 ± 3.28 158.44 ± 4.52 169.80 ± 4.65 82.55 ± 1.84 148.39 ± 5.64 175.78 ± 4.32
Pul 105.69 ±2.91 158.38 ± 3.21 189.67 ± 7.00 100.07 ± 1.76 160.72 ± 7.10 177.50 ± 7.64
Unauthenticated
Download Date | 12/13/16 7:58 PM
368 I. Sinyavskaya
Ta b l e 5. The average value of morphological features in males and females of the summer sampling of social
vole
Ò à á ëèö à 5. Ñðåäíÿÿ âåëè÷èíà ìîðôîëîãè÷åñêèõ ïðèçíàêîâ ó ñàìöîâ è ñàìîê ëåòíåé âûáîðêè
îáùåñòâåííîé ïîë¸âêè
No t e. M – mean value, SE — standard error.
Feature
Females Males
juvenis
(n = 57)
subadultus
(n = 32)
adultus
(n = 9)
juvenis
(n = 14)
subadultus
(n = 16)
adultus
(n = 15)
M ± SE M ± SE M ± SE M ± SE M ± SE M ± SE
L 73.23 ± 1.16 96.56 ± 0.62 101.78 ± 1.17 80.21 ± 1.61 97.13 ± 0.69 99.87 ± 0.58
Ca 18.21 ± 0.26 22.92 ± 0.31 24.44 ± 0.74 18.96 ± 0.40 21.81 ± 0.32 22.47 ± 0.48
Pl 14.35 ± 0.08 15.20 ± 0.11 15.17 ± 0.08 15.00 ± 0.22 15.50 ± 0.13 15.40 ± 0.11
Au 6.82 ± 0.10 8.20 ± 0.06 8.44 ± 0.13 7.46 ± 0.10 8.25 ± 0.14 7.93 ± 0.14
W 12.17 ± 0.52 23.78 ± 0.47 26.49 ± 0.91 15.26 ± 0.64 24.44 ± 0.47 26.62 ± 0.44
Lie 65.18 ± 4.86 97.95 ± 5.43 104.06 ±
11.59
73.43 ± 8.32 91.38 ± 6.83 93.20 ± 5.45
s. Adr 3.28 ± 0.23 7.02 ± 0.21 7.56 ± 0.39 3.21 ± 0.17 5.59 ± 0.20 6.17 ± 0.35
d. Adr 2.73 ± 0.18 5.89 ± 0.19 6.50 ± 0.41 2.71 ± 0.16 4.75 ± 0.25 5.20 ± 0.28
s. Ren 125.93 ± 4.43 214.55 ± 4.86 234.67 ± 9.55 139.07 ± 5.21 231.53 ± 6.08 226.53 ± 9.29
d. Ren 128.55 ± 4.56 217.03 ± 4.85 236.06 ± 9.86 143.14 ± 4.93 232.88 ± 6.37 234.83 ± 5.87
Int 2.97 ± 0.11 5.02 ± 0.14 5.86 ± 0.34 3.60 ± 0.19 4.33 ± 0.15 4.88 ± 0.11
Hep 864.39 ±
45.41
1855.94 ±
54.60
2023.33 ±
94.12
989.29 ±
48.21
1641.25 ±
53.22
1668.67 ±
42.02
Th 26.39 ± 1.61 11.52 ± 1.81 10.78 ± 2.31 26.86 ± 2.17 9.06 ± 1.40 9.07 ± 1.50
Cor 75.77 ± 2.65 136.56 ± 2.65 146.94 ± 4.20 88.43 ± 3.97 133.56 ± 2.61 146.37 ± 2.64
Pul 98.93 ± 2.59 150.25 ± 3.18 170.28 ± 6.22 106.57 ± 3.43 148.03 ± 5.22 164.37 ± 5.33
Ta b l e 6. The average value of morphological features in males and females of the autumn sampling of social
vole
Ò à á ëèö à 6. Ñðåäíÿÿ âåëè÷èíà ìîðôîëîãè÷åñêèõ ïðèçíàêîâ ó ñàìöîâ è ñàìîê îñåííåé âûáîðêè
îáùåñòâåííîé ïîë¸âêè
No t e. M – mean value, SE — standard error.
Feature
Females Males
juvenis
(n = 46)
subadultus
(n = 44)
adultus
(n = 11)
juvenis
(n = 48)
subadultus
(n = 16)
adultus
(n = 15)
M ± SE M ± SE M ± SE M ± SE M ± SE M ± SE
L 76.09 ± 0.95 96.52 ± 0.73 104.00 ± 0.74 75.97 ± 1.16 93.13 ± 1.10 101.43 ± 1.28
Ca 18.63 ± 0.33 22.30 ± 0.32 24.45 ± 0.49 18.56 ± 0.27 20.88 ± 0.52 23.23 ± 0.37
Pl 14.76 ± 0.11 15.13 ± 0.07 15.00 ± 0.15 14.61 ± 0.09 15.63 ± 0.09 15.70 ± 0.12
Au 7.12 ± 0.09 8.16 ± 0.09 8.45 ± 0.08 7.11 ± 0.10 8.00 ± 0.11 8.33 ± 0.14
W 13.13 ± 0.43 22.12 ± 0.42 25.36 ± 0.90 13.06 ± 0.52 21.50 ± 0.62 25.71 ± 0.74
Lie 64.98 ± 4.80 80.95 ± 3.83 76.41 ± 6.65 65.21 ± 7.21 95.81 ± 11.30 126.73 ±
13.22
s. Adr 3.38 ± 0.14 7.43 ± 0.25 8.09 ± 0.33 3.16 ± 0.16 5.75 ± 0.19 6.63 ± 0.32
d. Adr 2.77 ± 0.13 6.20 ± 0.19 6.86 ± 0.47 2.69 ± 0.15 4.84 ± 0.18 5.60 ± 0.26
s. Ren 124.15 ± 3.57 216.13 ± 5.68 238.82 ± 8.54 123.29 ± 3.98 191.34 ± 8.15 224.17 ± 8.16
d. Ren 126.54 ± 3.42 216.40 ± 5.72 241.68 ± 7.54 126.93 ± 4.04 189.75 ± 7.39 223.00 ± 9.52
Int 3.39 ± 0.09 5.43 ± 0.19 6.10 ± 0.48 3.23 ± 0.11 4.64 ± 0.19 5.50 ± 0.26
Hep 766.20 ±
24.71
1375.23 ±
38.15
1568.18 ±
81.22
745.42 ±
34.02
1075.63 ±
41.04
1283.33 ±
44.55
Th 30.64 ± 1.91 7.25 ± 0.91 3.59 ± 0.59 27.23 ± 1.89 13.63 ± 2.15 9.50 ± 1.11
Cor 87.53 ± 2.57 140.42 ± 2.59 160.59 ± 4.35 85.52 ± 2.95 131.75 ± 4.11 154.40 ± 4.12
Pul 108.22 ± 2.67 157.61 ± 3.23 182.73 ± 8.81 108.28 ± 2.80 146.84 ± 4.77 174.97 ±
11.18
Unauthenticated
Download Date | 12/13/16 7:58 PM
In winter and autumn significant differences between juvenile males and females
were not observed (p > 0,05) at any characters. Among the juvenile voles the highest
value of sexual differences was noted in spring samples (table 2, 4). In spring, females
in comparison with males are characterised by higher weight of body and adrenal glands
(p = 0.0003 – 0.0001). In summer, males are larger in body weight, length of feet and
ears (p = 0.001—0.03).
A greater level of sexual differences was found in the group of subadult individuals
(table 3—6). Weight of adrenal glands in seasonal samples of female was larger than in
males (p = 0.02–0.0008). In spring samples the weight of intestine (p = 0.02) was sig-
nificantly greater in females. In autumn samples females were characterized by greater
length of feet (p = 0.006), and the weight of the liver (p = 0.0009). These can be
explained by their faster growth and development compared with males (Peskov et all,
2011), and also by the increased level of metabolic processes connected with offsprings
bearing and nursing.
369Age and Seasonal Aspects Sexual Differences in Social vole, Microtus socialis...
Fig. 1. Sexual differences in seasonal samples of social vole (a – winter, b – spring, c – summer, d –
autumn).
Ðèñ. 1. Ïîëîâûå ðàçëè÷èÿ â сезонных âûáîðêàõ îáùåñòâåííîé ïîë¸âêè (a – çèìà, b – âåñíà, c –
ëåòî, d – îñåíü).
Unauthenticated
Download Date | 12/13/16 7:58 PM
Adult males and females did not differ in body length, but the average body weight
was significantly greater in males of winter samples (p = 0.03). Sexual differences in
this sample is proven for feet length (p = 0.0002), which typically bigger in males.
These facts are known for many species of voles (Bashenina, 1977; Meyer et al, 1996).
However, weight of the adrenal glands (p = 0.0003—0.00003), liver (p = 0.00003) and
thymus (p = 0.003) significantly greater in females. In spring and summer samples of
M. socialis variability of measurable traits is negligible and detected only for tail length
(p = 0.01), and weight of liver (p = 0.02). Adult males collected in autumn were char-
acterized by significantly bigger feet length (p = 0.001), weight of spleen (p = 0.0007)
and thymus (p = 0.008). In the adult voles this combination of traits might be con-
nected with physiological juvenility (Schwartz et al, 1968).
Sexual differences in the body mass and length were described in the literature for
such arvicoline species: Microtus agrestis, M. gregalis, M. arvalis, M. socialis, M. oecono-
mus (Bashenina, 1962, 1977; Meyer et al, 1996). Variability of organs is determined by
differences in the animal growth rate and duration of different seasons, sex and age
structure of population, weather and feeding conditions (Schwartz et al, 1968; Ivanter
et al, 1985). For example, weight of liver and intestine in females significantly higher
than in similar age groups males. This is related to the specificity of energy consump-
tion, accumulation and elevation of nutrient reserves in females during pregnancy and
lactation, (Schwartz et al, 1968; Ivanter et al, 1985).
The same is established in case of adrenal gland weight. The adrenals are known
to be the indicator of stress (Schwartz et al, 1968; Ivanter et al, 1985). Thus, a higher
level of instability to stress in females observes due to their faster growth in compari-
son with males during breeding season. (Schwartz et al, 1968).
Sexual differences in the length of the foot in social vole are apparently formed
very early (Peskov et al, 2011), as already in juvenile males foot is longer than in
females. Differences in the length of the tail between males and females occur in semi-
mature specimens – the females tail is significantly longer than that of males. This is
advantageous from an energy point of view as a long tail provides additional heat trans-
fer surface thereby reducing the risk of overheating (Panteleev et al, 1990). Our results
agree with the results obtained for Microtus gregalis (Dupal, Abramov, 2010)
Clethrionomys rutilus (Novikov, Faleev, 1988) by morphological and craniological fea-
tures.
We concluded that sexual differences in different age groups of social vole associ-
ated with unequal rate of growth in the various periods of ontogeny. The value sexual
difference and the degree of maturity in voles increase with age and dependent on the
season. In young immature voles sex differences almost unexpressed with the exception
of individuals from the spring samples, where the females are significantly larger than
males. The maximum gender differences were found in subadults M. socialis; the mean
values of all signs in females that grow faster than males are significantly bigger. In
autumn, when the reproduction is not so intense the opposite pattern is observed.
Therefore the combination of male and female in one sample in comparative morpho-
logical studies of voles is only allowed for juveniles, while, subadult and adult animals
should be analyzed separately.
We would like to thank I. I. Dzeverin (Schmalhausen Institute of Zoology NAS of Ukraine) for use-
ful critical comments.
References
Bank vole / Ed. N. V. Bashenina. – Moskow : Nauka, 1981. – 351 p. – Russian : Åâðîïåéñêàÿ ðûæàÿ
ïîëåâêà / Ïîä ðåä. Í. Â. Áàøåíèíîé.
370 I. Sinyavskaya
Unauthenticated
Download Date | 12/13/16 7:58 PM
Bashenina N. V. The tracts of adaptacion of mouselike rodents. – Moskow: Nauka, 1977. – 354 p. –
Russian : Áàøåíèíà Í. Â. Ïóòè àäàïòàöèè ìûøåâèäíûõ ãðûçóíîâ.
Boonstra R., Geller B. S., Krebs C. J. Mating systems and sexual dimorphism in mass on microtines // J.
Mammalogy. – 1993. – 74. – P. 224—229.
Davis-Born R., Wollf J. O. Age- and sex-specific responses of the gray-tailed vole, Microtus canicaudatus, to
connected and unconnected habitat patches // Can. J. Zool. – 2000. – 78. – P. 864–870.
Dupal T. A., Abramov S. A. Intra-population variability of the narrow-skulled vole (Microtus gregalis,
Rodentia, Arvicolinae) // Zool. Zhurnal. – 2010. – 89, N 7. – P. 850—861. – Russian: Äóïàë Ò. À.,
Àáðàìîâ Ñ. À. Âíóòðèïîïóëÿöèîííàÿ èçìåí÷èâîñòü óçêî÷åðåïíîé ïîëåâêè (Microtus gregalis,
Rodentia, Arvicolinae).
Emelyanov I. G., Zolotukhina S. I. On the problem of distinguishing age groups in Microtus socialis Pall //
Dopovidi AN UkrSSR. Ser. B. – 1975. – 7. – P. 661—663. – Ukrainian : ªìåëüÿíîâ ². Ã.,
Çîëîòóõ³íà Ñ. ². Ïðî âèä³ëåííÿ â³êîâèõ ãðóï ó ïîë³âêè ãóðòîâî¿ (Microtus socialis Pall.).
Faleev V. I., Epifantseva L. Yu. The morphological variability coordinated with the population cycle of the
widely distributed (the water vole Arvicola terrestris L.) and mountain (the big-eared vole Alticola
Macrotis Radde) vole species // Biol. bull. – 2000. – 27, N 2. – P. 171—177. – Russian: Ôàëååâ
Â. È., Åïèôàíöåâà Ë. Þ. Ñîãëàñîâàííàÿ ñ ïîïóëÿöèîííûì öèêëîì ÷èñëåííîñòè ìîðôîëîãè÷å-
ñêàÿ èçìåí÷èâîñòü øèðîêîðàñïðîñòðàíåííîãî (âîäÿíàÿ ïîëåâêà – Arvicola terrestris L.) è ãîð-
íîãî (áîëüøåóõàÿ ïîëåâêà – Alticola macrotis Radde) âèäîâ ïîëåâîê.
Faleev V. I., Dupal T. A., Abramov S. A. Izmencivost’ veliciny polovych razlicii v populyaciyach poljovok //
Sibirskii ekol. zhurn. – 2002. – N 6. – P. 819—826. – Russian: Ôàëååâ Â. È., Äóïàë Ò. À.,
Àáðàìîâ Ñ. À. Èçìåí÷èâîñòü âåëè÷èíû ïîëîâûõ ðàçëè÷èé â ïîïóëÿöèÿõ ïîëåâîê (Rodentia,
Cricetidae).
Grulich I. Contribution to the sexual dimorphism of the hamster (Cricetus cricetus, Rodentia, Mammalia) //
Folia Zool. – 1987. –36, N 4. – P. 291—306.
Hammond K. A., Roth J., Janes D. N., Dohm M. R. Morphological and physiological responses to altitude in
deer mice Peromyscus maniculatus // Physiol. Biochem. Zool. – 1999. – 72, N 5. — P. 613—622.
Heske E. J., Ostfeld R. S. Sexual dimorphism in size, relative size of testes, and mating systems in North
American voles // J. Mammal. – 1990. – 71, N 4. – P. 510—519.
Isaac J. L. Potential causes and life-history consequences of sexual size dimorphism // Mammal Rev. –
2005. – 35. – P. 101—115.
Ivanter E. V., Ivanter T. V., Tumanov I. L. Specific adaptive features of small mammals. – Leningrad :
Nauka, 1985. – 318 p. – Russian: Èâàíòåð Ý. Â., Èâàíòåð Ò. Â., Òóìàíîâ È. Ë. Àäàïòèâíûå îñî-
áåííîñòè ìåëêèõ ìëåêîïèòàþùèõ:
Kaneko Y. Seasonal and sexual differences in absolute and relative growth in Microtus montebelli // Acta
Theriol. – 1978. – 23, N 1—6. – P. 75—98.
Lammers A. R., Dziech H. A., German R. Z. Ontogeny of sexual dimorphism in Chinchilla lanigera (Rodentia:
Chinchillidae) // J. Mammal. – 2001. – 82, N 1. – P. 179—189.
Markowski J., Ostbye E. Morphological variability of a root vole in high mountain habitats, Harrdangervidda,
South Norway // J. Mammal. – 1992. – 37, N 1—2. – P. 117—139.
Meyer M. N., Golenishcev F. N., Radjabli S. I., Sablina O. L. Voles (Subgenus Microtus Schrank) of Russia
and adjacent territories. – S. Petersburg, 1996. – 320 p. – (Proceed. of Zool. Instit.; Vol. 32). –
Russian : Ìåéåð Ì. Í., Ãîëåíèùåâ Ô. Í., Ðàäæàáëè Ñ. È., Ñàáëèíà Î. Ë. Ñåðûå ïîëåâêè ôàóíû
Ðîññèè è ñîïðåäåëüíûõ òåððèòîðèé.
Novikov E. A., Faleev V. I. Development of nothern red-backed vole in different phases dynamics of densi-
ty // Gryzuny. : Tez. dokl. VII Vsesojuzn. soveshch. Vol. 2. – Sverdlovsk, 1988. – P. 96—97. –
Russian: Íîâèêîâ Å. À., Ôàëååâ Â. È. Ðàçâèòèå êðàñíîé ïîëåâêè íà ðàçíûõ ôàçàõ öèêëà ÷èñëåí-
íîñòè // Ãðûçóíû.
Panteleev P. A., Terechina A. N., Varshavskii A. A. Ekogeograficeskaja izmencivost’ gryzunov. – Moskow :
Nauka, 1990. – 373 p. – Russian: Ïàíòåëååâ Ï. À., Òåðåõèíà À. Í., Âàðøàâ ñêèé À. À.
Ýêîãåîãðàôè÷åñêàÿ èçìåí÷èâîñòü ãðûçóíîâ.
Peskov V. N., Sinyavskaya, Emelyanov I. G. Allometrical growth and formation of sexual and interspecific dif-
ferences in post-embrionic development of Microtus arvalis and Microtus socialis // Proceed. of the
Zoological Museum. – 2011. – N 42. – P. 1—18 – Russian: Ïåñêîâ Â. Í., Ñèíÿâñêàÿ È. À.,
Åìåëüÿíîâ È. Ã. Àëëîìåòðè÷åñêèé ðîñò è ôîðìèðîâàíèå ïîëîâûõ è ìåæâèäîâûõ ðàçëè÷èé â
ïîñòýìáðèîíàëüíîì ðàçâèòèè Microtus arvalis è M. socialis.
Ralls K. Sexual dimorphism in mammals: avian models and unanswered questions // Amer. Natur. – 1977. –
111, N 981. — P. 917 – 938.
371Age and Seasonal Aspects Sexual Differences in Social vole, Microtus socialis...
Unauthenticated
Download Date | 12/13/16 7:58 PM
Schulte-Hostedde A. I., Millar J. S. Measuring sexual size dimorphism in the yellow-pine chipmunk (Tamias
amoenus) // Can. J. Zool. – 2000. – 78. – P. 728—733.
Schwarz S. S., Smirnov V. S., Dodrinskii L. N. The method of morphological indicators in the Ecology of ter-
restrial mammals // Proceed. of the Inst. of System. and Ecol. of Anim. –Sverdlovsk : UFAN USSR,
1968 . – Is. 58. – 338 p.– Russian: Øâàðö Ñ. Ñ., Ñìèðíîâ Â. Ñ., Äîáðèíñêèé Ë. Í. Ìåòîä ìîðôî-
ôèçèîëîãè÷åñêèõ èíäèêàòîðîâ â ýêîëîãèè íàçåìíûõ ïîçâîíî÷íûõ.
Stamps J. A. Sexual size dimorphism in species with asymptotic growth after maturity // Biol. J. Linn. Soc. –
1993. – 50, N 2. – Ð. 123—145.
StatSoft. STATISTICA / StatSoft, Inc. – 2001. – http: // www. statsoft. com
Vasiljev A. G., Faleev V. I., Galaktionov Yu. K., Realization of morphological diversity in natural population
of mammals. – Novosibirsk : Publisher for Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Science, 2003. –
232 p. – Russian : Âàñèëüåâ À. Ã., Ôàëååâ Â. È., Ãàëàêòèîíîâ Þ. Ê. Ðåàëèçàöèÿ ìîðôîëîãè÷åñêî-
ãî ðàçíîîáðàçèÿ â ïðèðîäíûõ ïîïóëÿöèÿõ ìëåêîïèòàþùèõ.
Received 10 April 2013
Accepted 20 May 2013
372 I. Sinyavskaya
Unauthenticated
Download Date | 12/13/16 7:58 PM
|