Relationships of maternal nesting to thermoregulatory nesting in house mice (Mus musculus) at warm and cold temperatures

摘要: Abstract Thermoregulatory and maternal nesting in Mus musculus (indexed as weight of cotton pulled into the cage) was measured at 5 C 22 on mice representing lines from a bidirectional selection experiment for nest size room temperature. The effects both temperature were significant across entire experiment. Nesting day parturition correlated highly with thermoregulatory nesting, number offspring that survived to weaning, indicating common genetic basis direct correlation these traits Darwinian fitness. Amount used increased soon after mating remained high large amount variability until about 10 days parturition, then decreased sharply. pattern changes during pregnancy resembled progesterone levels reported previously literature mice, contrasted models smooth symmetric curve peaking parturition.