Parentage of 920 gray-sided voles (Myodes rufocanus) born in a 3-ha outdoor enclosure between September 1992 and May 1994

Abstract

This dataset provides the estimated birth location, sex, assigned parents, and estimated birth and death dates of 920 gray-sided voles (Myodes rufocanus) born in a 3-ha outdoor enclosure in Sapporo, Japan between September 1992 and May 1994, as well as capture–recapture data for 30 trapping sessions. We introduced 22 males and 25 females from several natural populations into the enclosure in late September 1992. Individuals in the enclosure were captured using live traps every 2 weeks until late April 1994, except for periods with deep snow cover. The location, body weight, and reproductive status of each vole were monitored throughout the study period. Complementary trapping was performed within the home ranges of breeding females to mark juveniles as early as possible. Upon first capture, each individual was marked by toe clipping for subsequent identification, and the clipped toes were used as DNA samples. For each individual, candidate parents were selected based on female reproduction history and capture points. Parentage then was determined using genotypes at 3–5 microsatellite loci with the CERVUS program. The results show that individuals born in the enclosure (N = 920) were derived from 215 litters, among which multiple males sired 51 litters. We used this database to elucidate the promiscuous mating system and inbreeding-avoidance mechanism of the gray-sided vole and to develop a new method for estimating the frequency of multiple-male mating. This dataset will contribute to future behavioral ecological research on this and other small mammal species. The complete data set for this abstract published in the Data Article section of the journal is available in electronic format in MetaCat in JaLTER at http://db.cger.nies.go.jp/JaLTER/metacat/metacat/ERDP-2023-03.1/jalter-en.