Seasonal Reproduction Shift among Three Murine Rodents in a Mediterranean Area of North-Western Africa

Reproduction of wild rodents in the temperate regions is adaptively timed with the season under the influence of photoperiod, temperature and food availability. The aim of this study was to investigate the responses of three small-sized murine species to the same physical and ecological conditions in a locality of Great Kabylia (Algeria). Apodemus sylvaticus, and Mus spretus synchronized their reproduction in winter and spring, Lemniscomys barbarus in spring and summer. Photoperiod and temperature cannot explain this reproduction shift that might be linked to the feeding ecology of the species.

Automated summary

This study investigates the reproductive responses of three small-sized murine species to the same physical and ecological conditions in the Great Kabylia region, revealing that photoperiod and temperature cannot explain the variation in their reproduction timing, which may be linked to the feeding ecology of the species.