Reproductive success assessment in marmots (Sciuridae)

Knowledge graph centered on Reproductive success assessment in marmots (Sciuridae) with 72 nodes and 180 connections. Top connected: Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory, Gothic, Marmota, Yellow-bellied Marmot, Scarlet Gilia.

Method synopsis

Assessment of female reproductive success through behavioral observation of pup emergence from natal burrows and pedigree analysis to assign offspring to mothers.

Synthesized from method descriptions across 5 papers using this protocol.

Procedure from a recent peer-reviewed implementation

Steps below were extracted from the most recent peer-reviewed implementation of this protocol in the corpus — Group social structure has limited impact on reproductive success in a wild mammal (2023), Behavioral Ecology. The protocol was originally introduced by Determining whether tourist abundance and reproductive status predispose golden-mantled ground squirrels (<i>Callospermophilus lateralis</i>) to vehicular accidents (2020). Implementations in other papers (listed below) may differ.

1. Reproductive success measurement
   Female reproductive success quantified in two ways: (1) binary measure if female successfully weaned a litter from burrow, and (2) count measure of number of pups that weaned. Offspring assigned to each female based on behavioral observations and comprehensive pedigree. Methodology accounts for pups born in burrow but died before emergence.
   Quantities: 654 observations of female reproductive success across 306 unique individuals in 92 social groups over 19 years, with 231 total observations for pup number analysisDuration: Annual assessment during weaning period (~30 days after birth)Conditions: Weaning success determined when pups emerged from natal burrow
   Equipment: behavioral observation records, comprehensive pedigree database

Typical Equipment

• behavioral observation records
• comprehensive pedigree database

Output Measurements

• weaning success
• litter size
• offspring survival

Papers Using This Protocol (5)

Species Studied With This Protocol

Places Where Used