Behavior-genetic mechanisms of population regulation in microtine rodents

Abstract

We examine three behavior-genetic mechanisms of vole population regulation. Each predictsan increase in aggressive behavior among individuals as density increases. The polymorphic behavior hypothesis predicts heritable changes in aggressive behavior among individuals; the sociobiological hypothesis predicts heightened aggression among nonrelatives; and the outbreeding hypothesis predicts an increase in heterozygosity-caused aggressiveness. In order to test these hypotheses, it is necessary to know relatedness, aggressive behavior levels, and genotypes of individuals, as well as demographic and reproductive parameters. Aggressive levels can be obtained during paired encounters; genotypes can be ascertained by electrophoresis; and relatedness can be determined using radionuclides or radiotelemetry, and electrophoresis. In this paper we discuss the hypotheses, data-gathering protocols, and the ways in which the data can be used to test the hypotheses. © 1987 by the American Society of Zoologists.