Population density does not affect seasonal regulation of reproductive physiology in male water voles

Abstract

Most small rodent species display cyclic fluctuations in their population density. The mechanisms behind these cyclical variations are not yet clearly understood. Density-dependent effects on reproductive function could affect these population variations. The fossorial water vole ecotype, Arvicola terrestris, exhibits multi-year cyclical dynamics with outbreak peaks. Here, we monitored different water vole populations over 3 years, in spring and autumn, to evaluate whether population density is related to male reproductive physiology. Our results show an effect of season and inter-Annual factors on testis mass, plasmatic testosterone level, and androgen-dependent seminal vesicle mass. By contrast, population density does not affect any of these parameters, suggesting a lack of modulation of population dynamics by population density.