Photoperiod and the timing of reproduction in 'Antechinus flavipes' (Dasyuridae: Marsupialia)

Abstract

The effect of an artificial, unchanging photoperiod regime was examined in comparison to a natural photoperiodic regime on the reproductive pattern in 'Antechinus flavipes', a small dasyurid marsupial which in the wild has a short, highly synchronized mating period. Females held under a photoperiod of LD 12:12 showed delayed sexual maturity and only one individual entered oestrus, about 3 weeks after females under natural photoperiod. Oestrus could be induced in the remaining females by increasing the photoperiod by 1 min/day for at least 3–4 weeks. In contrast to the females, males under artificial and natural photoperiod showed a similar pattern of maturity and decline of reproductive condition and senility. Only some aspects of sexual maturity were delayed and others were unsynchronized in males under LD 12:12 regime compared to the males held under the natural photoperiod. Our study suggests that, especially in females, changing photoperiod is important in synchronizing reproductive events in 'A. flavipes'.