The mating system or social-organizational structure of an animal species or population is a fundamental aspect of its biology in the field. It affects the ways in which animals exploit resources in a region and how individuals compete for resources and for reproductive success. Such systems differ in different species. The overall system in a society is the product of the individual behavioral responses of the animals in the society. The goal of this project is to determine the behavioral tendencies of animals living in different systems, in an attempt to understand what individual behavioral patterns are important in producing the system. Voles of the genus Microtus are ideal research subjects, as they live in different mating systems and adapt well to the laboratory. Dr. Dewsbury will continue studying four species of voles: prairie voles and pine voles, which are often monogamous, and montane voles and meadow voles, which are often polygamous. Among the traits to be contrasted are development, play, mate choice, and sperm competition. The results will contribute to a general understanding of different mating systems and the factors that underlie them.
