A1 Journal article (refereed)
Early life of fathers affects offspring fitness in a wild rodent (2019)
Van Cann, J., Koskela, E., Mappes, T., Mikkonen, A.-M., Mökkönen, M., & Watts, P. C. (2019). Early life of fathers affects offspring fitness in a wild rodent. Journal of Evolutionary Biology, 32(10), 1141-1151. https://doi.org/10.1111/jeb.13516
JYU authors or editors
Publication details
All authors or editors: Van Cann, Joannes; Koskela, Esa; Mappes, Tapio; Mikkonen, Anne-Mari; Mökkönen, Mikael; Watts, Phillip C.
Journal or series: Journal of Evolutionary Biology
ISSN: 1010-061X
eISSN: 1420-9101
Publication year: 2019
Volume: 32
Issue number: 10
Pages range: 1141-1151
Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
Publication country: United Kingdom
Publication language: English
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jeb.13516
Research data link: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.1288354
Publication open access: Not open
Publication channel open access:
Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/65415
Abstract
Intergenerational fitness effects on offspring due to the early life of the parent are well studied from the standpoint of the maternal environment, but intergenerational effects owing to the paternal early life environment are often overlooked. Nonetheless, recent laboratory studies in mammals and ecologically relevant studies in invertebrates predict that paternal effects can have a major impact on the offspring's phenotype. These non‐genetic, environment‐dependent paternal effects provide a mechanism for fathers to transmit environmental information to their offspring, and could allow rapid adaptation. We used the bank vole Myodes glareolus, a wild rodent species with no paternal care, to test the hypothesis that a high population density environment in the early life of fathers can affect traits associated with offspring fitness. We show that the protein content in the diet and/or social environment experienced during the father's early life (prenatal and weaning) influence the phenotype and survival of his offspring and may indicate adaptation to density‐dependent costs. Furthermore, we show that experiencing multiple environmental factors during the paternal early life can lead to a different outcome on the offspring phenotype than stimulated by experience of a single environmental factor, highlighting the need to study developmental experiences in tandem rather than independent of each other.
Keywords: Clethrionomys glareolus; living environment; nutrition; adaptation (change); survival; epigenetic inheritance; descendants
Free keywords: paternal effect; fitness; early life environment; intergenerational effects; adaptation; protein restricted diet; winter survival; population density; Myodes glareolus; social confrontation
Contributing organizations
Ministry reporting: Yes
Reporting Year: 2019
JUFO rating: 2