Reproduction is driven by seasonal environmental variation in an equatorial mammal, the banded mongoose (Mungos mungo).

ABSTRACT: Reproduction is an energetically costly activity and so is often timed to occur when conditions are most favorable. However, human-induced changes in long-term, seasonal, and short-term climatic conditions have imposed negative consequences for reproduction across a range of mammals. Whilst the effect of climate change on reproduction in temperate species is well known, its effect on equatorial species is comparatively understudied. We used long-term ecological data (~20 yr) to investigate the impact of changes in rainfall and temperature on reproduction in an equatorial mammal, the banded mongoose (Mungos mungo). After controlling for the effects of group-size, we found that more females were pregnant and gave birth following periods of high seasonal rainfall, pregnancies increased

SUBMITTER: Khera M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11840749 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Mar-Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature