Seasonal variation in fertility, fecundity and litter sex ratio in laboratory and wild stocks of house mice (Mus domesticus)

Data compilations were made for three parameters pertaining to reproduction in a domestic strain (14 years) and a wild stock (4 years) of commensal house mice: (a) the percentage of females mated that produced litters; (b) the average number of pups per litter; and (c) the sex ratio of the pups in the litters. Fecundity and fertility varied seasonally in both domestic and wild mice. More females become pregnant and litter sizes were larger in the spring, summer, and fall months than during the winter season. Sex ratios also varied seasonally with more male biased litters produced during the 4 winter months. There appear to be seasonal shifts in productivity for both stocks of mice and these seasonal trends have not been altered by domestication under laboratory conditions. In spite of the fact that house mice are generally opportunistic, it is possible that there has been selection in the mice for shifting rates of production in relation to the best seasons of the year in terms of climate and resource availability. The higher production of males during summer months may be geared toward greater success in dispersal at that season and a higher probability that the males can find a territory and mate successfully in summer rather than winter. These results have potential implications for animal breeders and for those who maintain mouse colonies to produce animals for scientific investigations.