User:Aseb101/Algerian mouse

The article will be focused on the reproductive biology of Algerian mouse.

-It focuses on the reproductive patterns of two species of mice in southern Spain, Mus spretus and Apodemus sylvaticus

-Mus spretus displays paternal care and social monogamy is advanced for this species.

-This article investigates the mating system of the wild mouse Mus spretus and assess the presence of pair bonding in this species.

- It investigates the effects of social interaction on the attraction of mice to competitor's odor.

-It investigates the biochemical diversity and evolution of the genus Mus, which includes several species of mice.

-It examines the distribution and abundance of Mus spretus and Apodemus sylvaticus in Northern Algeria.

-The article will be focused on the exchange of genetic material between two species of mice, Mus musculus domesticus and Mus spretus.

-The article explains the differences in behavior and social organization, rather than just environmental factors, determine the spatial distribution of commensal Mus domesticus and Mus spretus.

-It investigates whether the response to superovulation and in vitro maturation of oocytes varies among three species of mice, Mus musculus, Mus spretus and Mus spicilegus, and whether these differences are due to variations in their reproductive physiology or to differences in their in vitro culture conditions.

-This article aims to identify the proteins that are unique to each species and determine how they relate to the species-specific adaptations of their reproductive systems.

-It investigates the extent of gene flow and hybridization between two subspecies of mice, Mus musculus domesticus and Mus spretus, by analyzing the distribution of unique genetic sequences in their genomes.

-It investigates the microhabitat and spatial dispersion of Mus spretus.

- It investigates how the behavior of Mus spretus in handling acorns is influenced by different ecological and environmental contexts.

Outline:

 * Behaviour and ecology


 * Reproduction


 * 1) Mating System
 * 2) Mate attraction and competition
 * 3) Spermatogenic activity
 * 4) Paternal care

Behaviour and ecology
Territorial organization and social behavior

Male and female adults are frequently captured in the same location, implying a close relationship with their environment. The sedentary nature of older males at the beginning of reproduction suggests territorial organization, although it does not fiercely try to exclude others from its territory. Lactating females are more aggressive than other females. Each male territory overlaps with the territory of at least two females. Daily displacements vary depending on the habitat, sex, age, and season. The average ranges from 27.8 m to 112.0 m. Algerian mice is sympatric with house mice but usually does not share habitats. Competition between the two species depends on habitat quality, and Algerian mice dominates in the driest habitats.

Reproduction
Mating system

Male mice exhibit strong affiliative behaviors towards their usual mate, regardless of their reproductive state. There is an existence of a socio-spatial link between a single male and a single female, which could imply a social monogamous mating system. Additionally, male and female mice form stable pair bonds that persist throughout the breeding season. These pairs exhibit coordinated behaviors such as nest building and territory defense, indicating a high level of social and behavioral compatibility between the two individuals. Reproductive state of female mice (virgin or paired) seemed to have no effect on the issue of the encounters by male mice.

Mate attraction and competition:

Algerian mice exhibits a high degree of sexual dimorphism, with males being larger and more aggressive than females. Sexual maturity is reached earlier in females than in males, with females being able to conceive and bear young from the sixth or seventh week of life, while males cannot fertilize a female before the eighth week. The beginning of sexual maturity appears to depend on unique characteristics such as environmental and populational factors. Social interactions between male mice can alter their attraction to the odors of their competitors. Specifically, male mice that had social interactions with an unfamiliar male showed reduced attraction to the odor of the competitor compared to mice that had no social interaction. The change in attraction is due to changes in the receiver's perception of the odor. This perception of competitor's odors in mice could have important implications for mate choice and other social behaviors in this species. For example, male mice could have less attraction to a female mouse when she has the odor of a competitor on her.

Spermatogenic activity

Algerian mice are the only known small mammal species not showing inverted breeding pattern in European southern populations with respect to northern ones. Researchers have explored the mechanism of inverted breeding patterns by testing for differences in spermatogenetic activity between Algerian mice and closely related species. For example, wood mice (Apodemus sylvaticus) breed during Spring/ Autumn when they are in Northern Europe. But in Southern Europe, they breed the whole year, except in the summer. The study showed that Algerian mice do not show this kind of inversion in breeding pattern. The length of the spermatogenic cycle in Algerian mice is currently unknown. Male mice captured during the non-breeding season show normal spermatogenesis and spermiogenesis even though they undergo a reduction in testicular mass and seminiferous tubule diameter. Also, their epididymides contain mature spermatozoa, which indicates they are fully fertile. However, they are likely sexually inactive due to the low levels of serum testosterone and the lack of sexual receptivity of the females. Sexually inactive males of Algerian mice maintain almost normal spermatogenic activity and intact blood-testis barrier despite a significant reduction of the androgenic function.

Paternal care

The males are involved in parental care, with the fathers contributing to the care of the offspring by retrieving them and returning them to the nest. This behavior increases the survival of the offspring. In laboratory conditions, male Algerian mice show care for their offspring, including gathering and protecting their young and sharing nests. In field conditions, male Algerian mice not only provide care for their offspring but also participate in territorial defense and food provisioning. Males play a significant role in ensuring the survival and well-being of their offspring.