title: Initiation of early breeding in a population of Microtus townsendii (Rodentia) with the secondary plant compound 6-MBOA.
abstract: Feeding the secondary plant compound 6-Methoxybenzoxazolinone (6-MBOA) during winter to a free living population of Microtus townsendii accelerated breeding in females. Both the recruitment of young and sexual maturation of these young were advanced by four weeks in comparison with a control population. Overwintered females supplied with 6-MBOA matured at a lower body weight than control females. But there was no such weightat-maturity difference between the grids for males. During April and May 72% of all juveniles captured came from the experimental population. Winter reproduction and early recruitment of young stimulated by 6-MBOA could have important population consequences for these voles.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Animal Resource Ecology, The University of British Columbia, V6T 1W5, Vancouver, B.C., Canada.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Korn
authors.affiliation: Institute of Animal Resource Ecology, The University of British Columbia, V6T 1W5, Vancouver, B.C., Canada.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Taitt
keywords: 6-MBOA; Microtus townsendii; Population; Voles; Winter breeding