Breeding male mole-rats (Fukomys) use strong bites to defend reproductive monopoly

Result code in IS VaVaI
<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F60076658%3A12310%2F25%3A43910518" target="_blank" >RIV/60076658:12310/25:43910518 - isvavai.cz</a>
Result on the web
<a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s42003-025-09334-8" target="_blank" >https://www.nature.com/articles/s42003-025-09334-8</a>
DOI - Digital Object Identifier
<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s42003-025-09334-8" target="_blank" >10.1038/s42003-025-09334-8</a>

Result language
angličtina
Original language name
Breeding male mole-rats (Fukomys) use strong bites to defend reproductive monopoly
Original language description
Bite force is a simple trait indicating an animal's performance related to foraging, social dominance, and defence, all of which influence individual reproductive success. We examine the effect of breeding status on bite force in four social species of Fukomys, a genus of subterranean African rodents (Bathyergidae). These species are cooperative breeders, where reproduction is limited typically to a breeding pair. We collected in vivo bite force data, head width, and upper incisors width from 404 individuals from 75 families and tested whether breeders exhibit stronger bite force. We reveal that breeding males of all four species outperform non-breeders, with bite force in non-breeding males and females being 12% and 22% lower, respectively. In contrast, breeding females underperform relative to other categories, with bite force approximately 31% lower than in breeding males, and many are reluctant to bite. Head width and upper incisors width corroborate these findings. We propose that breeding males require a stronger bite force because of repeated competition with non-related males that may try to enter the family. In contrast, there is much less competition for the breeding position among females, as females rarely intrude into established families.
Czech name
—
Czech description
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Type
J<sub>imp</sub> - Article in a specialist periodical, which is included in the Web of Science database
CEP classification
—
OECD FORD branch
10602 - Biology (theoretical, mathematical, thermal, cryobiology, biological rhythm), Evolutionary biology

Project
<a href="/en/project/GA20-10222S" target="_blank" >GA20-10222S: Phylogeny, adaptation and evolution of sociality in African mole-rats, a model group in evolutionary and biomedical research</a><br>
Continuities
P - Projekt vyzkumu a vyvoje financovany z verejnych zdroju (s odkazem do CEP)

Publication year
2025
Confidentiality
S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů

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