Australian Journal of Zoology (1983) 31, 155-166

G.R. Singleton (1983)
The social and genetic structure of a natural colony of house mice, Mus musculus, at Healesville Wildlife Sanctuary
Australian Journal of Zoology 31 (2), 155-166
Abstract: A 2-year program monitored the spatial organization, genetic structure and turnover rate of an unconfined commensal colony of mice. Four demes (social breeding units) were identified; each usually consisted of one or two males and two or three females. Demes were detected simultaneously in adjoining cages of an aviary (one deme per cage). Movement between demes was rare and the life span of a deme ranged from 2 to 7 months. The adult members of each deme had genotypes compatible to the majority of the young captured in the respective cage of the aviary at the time of residence of the deme. Taken in isolation, these results suggest that social behaviour would have a major impact on the genetic structure of the aviary population. When viewed over the main breeding season, the short life span of a deme and the genetic differences between demes indicate that social organization probably had only a temporary effect on the genetic composition of the aviary population.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Grant Robert Singleton

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
general biology - morphology - evolution

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Mus musculus		Australia (South+SE)