Huck U W, Lisk R D, McKay M V
Department of Biology, Princeton University, NJ 08544.
Physiol Behav. 1988;44(3):313-9. doi: 10.1016/0031-9384(88)90031-5.
Pairs of female hamsters were acclimated to seminatural enclosures and permitted to interact for brief periods on days 12-14 of gestation or on days 2-4 of lactation. In one experimental paradigm, food was provided in excess of the daily requirements while in a second, food rations were restricted. Control females were similarly housed and fed but were not exposed to another animal. Paired females readily established dominant-subordinate relationships. Dominant females successfully removed food from the subordinate females and, as a result, accumulated larger food hoards. Subordinate females gave birth to fewer pups than either dominant or subordinate animals when social interactions occurred late in pregnancy and maintained smaller litters when interactions occurred during lactation. Reductions in the fecundity of subordinate females were more pronounced when the food ration was restricted. Under ad lib feeding conditions dominant females also maintained fewer young than control animals, but when food was restricted they were more successful than the control group. Subordinate females successfully defended their burrows against intrusions by dominant animals; maternal cannibalism accounted for most reductions in litter size. These results suggest that a defensible burrow and the acquisition of a food hoard are essential for successful reproduction in this species.
将雌性仓鼠配对后，使其适应半自然环境，并在妊娠期的第12 - 14天或哺乳期的第2 - 4天允许它们进行短时间互动。在一种实验范式中，提供的食物量超过每日需求量，而在另一种范式中，食物定量受限。对照雌性仓鼠的饲养和喂食方式相同，但不与其他动物接触。配对的雌性仓鼠很容易建立起主导 - 从属关系。主导雌性仓鼠成功地从从属雌性仓鼠那里夺走食物，结果积累了更多的食物储备。当社交互动发生在妊娠后期时，从属雌性仓鼠产下的幼崽比主导或从属动物都少；当互动发生在哺乳期时，从属雌性仓鼠维持的窝仔数较小。当食物定量受限时，从属雌性仓鼠繁殖力的下降更为明显。在自由采食条件下，主导雌性仓鼠养育的幼崽也比对照动物少，但当食物受限时，它们比对照组更成功。从属雌性仓鼠成功地保护自己的洞穴免受主导动物的侵扰；母性同类相食是窝仔数减少的主要原因。这些结果表明，一个可防御的洞穴和获取食物储备对于该物种的成功繁殖至关重要。
