Abstract
Bank voles (Clethrionomys glareolus) had a higher proportion of females in second generation litters of laboratory-bred animals than in the first generation. This male deficit was related to lighter mothers in the second generation. Field voles (Microtus agrestis) had more females in litters from cyclic than from non-cyclic populations. Cyclic field voles seem more polygynous than non-cyclic ones. The field vole showed no maternal effect. Bank vole females are territorial but field vole females apparently not and bank vole females should show greater intrapopulation variation in fitness. In these two species females thus invest most heavily in the sex with the highest reproductive success under prevailing conditions, as suggested by Trivers and Willard.
Published Version
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