Wei Liu, Guiming Wang, Yanni Wang, Wenqin Zhong, Xinrong Wan, People Ecology from Nuts Mongolian Gerbils Meriones unguiculatus, Record away from Mammalogy, Volume ninety, Situation cuatro, M-A-265.step 1

Conceptual

North rodent communities tend to display temporary figure on account of seasonal alter when you look at the demographic procedure such as for example success, breeding, and you may course. Seasonal models inside their demography partially originate from regular changes in climate and investment supply. I learned the population environment out-of Mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus), a personal rat surviving in organizations year-round when you look at the desert grasslands of China, Mongolia, and you can Russia, using take-recapture solutions to look at the regular models when you look at the demography. Gerbils had been livetrapped biweekly off later in Internal Mongolian grasslands, Asia. We made use of powerful-construction designs and you will Cormack-Jolly-Seber models so you’re able to estimate people size and you can noticeable survival probability. As well, we used multistate habits to check on to own a swap-out-of ranging from reproduction and you can success. Like other northern rats or rodents, Mongolian gerbils shown a single annual level in abundance, however, gerbil numbers peaked unusually at the beginning of June. Gerbil populations was females-biased and then have biased towards the elderly anyone. The fresh breeding season is restricted to brand new wet-season out of April toward avoid off August, and endurance declined regarding April so you’re able to Oct. I found a swap-regarding between survival and breeding within the people but not in women. Kinship and collaboration amongst females can get enhance endurance to help you offset the price of reproduction.