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Body condition affects implantation date in European badger
Journal
Journal of Zoology
Volume 236 Issue 2,Pages183-188 Published Online: 23Mar2009
Authors
Rosie Woodroffe*
, 1 1 Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, Department of Zoology, South
Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PS *Department of Zoology, University of
Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EJ
Abstract
The European badger has been used for many years as a
model for the study of delayed implantation. Extensive experimental work
has shown that implantation, which occurs around the winter solstice, is
triggered by photoperiod. This paper presents data on estimated
implantation dates in a wild population of badgers, measured by ultrasound
scanning. It shows that females' nutritional state prior to implantation
also influences implantation date, with females in good condition
implanting relatively early. Photoperiod is known to influence
implantation on a timescale of months, but body condition acted on a
timescale of days; thus while photoperiod may be used to set the time of
breeding to correspond approximately with seasonal variation in good
availability, females may use body condition to calibrate their
reproduction in response to their own local conditions. Giving birth early
in the year provides cubs with the maximum period of growth prior to the
summer, when food availability is very low. Since females feed little
during gestation and the early phases of lactation, females in good
condition will be able to afford to implant earlier than those with
smaller fat reserves.
Keywords
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