Effects of Cross-Fostering on Parental Behavior of Meadow Voles (Microtus pennsylvanicus)

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Abstract
A cross-fostering paradigm was used to determine effects of early social environment on subsequent parental behavior of meadow voles (Microtus pennsylvanicus). Meadow-vole pups were fostered to either meadow-vole parents (in-fostered young) or prairie-vole parents (M. ochrogaster; cross-fostered young). Young reared by prairie-vole parents received more parental contact than pups fostered to meadow-vole parents. At 60 days of age, nonlittermates of the same rearing condition were paired for breeding, and interactions between pairs and their litters were recorded from below large table-like pens. Postpartum nest cohabitation by males and females was observed in four of eight cross-fostered pairs; members of all eight in-fostered pairs displayed separate nesting. Cross-fostered females spent more time in the nest and exhibited more brooding, nursing, and pup grooming than in-fostered females. Cross-fostered males often entered the natal nest and engaged in more pup contact behavior than in-fostered males. In general, nonsocial behavior was unaffected by rearing condition. These results suggest that development of parental behavior in the meadow vole is subject to influence by characteristics of the early environment.

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