Interactions between infant growth and survival: Evidence for selection on age-specific body weight in captive common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus)

Jaquish, Cashell E.; Tardif, Suzette D.; Cheverud, James M.

doi:10.1002/(sici)1098-2345(1997)42:4<269::aid-ajp2>3.0.co;2-v

Cited by 15 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…In subsequent years the litter size effect has been ameliorated as the average birth weight of triplets has increased by 6.3% while the average birth weight of twins increased by only 2.1%, such that there is a more extensive overlap of triplet and twin birth weights-see Table 1. The limited increase in twin birth weights is perhaps not unexpected, given the fact that birth weights show evidence of stabilizing selection that will place upper limits on fetal size (Jaquish et al, 1997). The increase in triplet weights, however, indicates that the marmoset uterine environment provides significant flexibility in investment up to a fetal size that does not impair delivery.…”

Section: Birth Mass As a Reflection Of The Prenatal Environmentmentioning

confidence: 97%

Body mass growth in common marmosets: Toward a model of pediatric obesity

Tardif¹,

Power

Ross³

et al. 2012

American J Phys Anthropol

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While much is known about adult obesity in nonhuman primates, very little is known regarding development of childhood adiposity. As small monkeys that are easy to handle and have a relatively fast life history, common marmoset monkeys (Callithrix jacchus) offer interesting opportunities to examine the question of fat versus lean mass growth in a nonhuman primate. This paper provides an overview of our understanding of early life growth in mass in marmoset monkeys, based primarily upon our past 20 years of research, culminating in our recent findings on early life obesity in this species. Common marmosets display variance in early life growth patterns that is related to both pre- and post-natal factors and the marmoset uterine environment is exquisitely designed to reflect resources available for the gestation of multiple offspring, making them an interesting model of developmental programming. We have demonstrated that obesity can be generated in very early life in captive marmosets, with excess adiposity evident by one month of age, making this species a potentially valuable model in which to study pediatric obesity and its sequelae. Birth weight is associated with adiposity in animals vulnerable to obesity. Early life exposure to higher fat diets enhances the chances of post-weaning obesity development. However, overall higher food consumption is also associated with obesity development at later ages. One unexpected finding in our studies has been the relatively high body fat percentage of neonatal (12–18%) marmosets suggesting that hypotheses regarding the uniqueness of high human neonatal adiposity merit further examination.

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Section: Birth Mass As a Reflection Of The Prenatal Environmentmentioning

confidence: 97%

Body mass growth in common marmosets: Toward a model of pediatric obesity

Tardif¹,

Power

Ross³

et al. 2012

American J Phys Anthropol

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“…Cooperative breeding occurs in several genera of the primate family, Callitrichidae (Callithrix, Leontopithecus and Saguinus). These animals live in small, territorial groups of 4-15 individuals (French 1997;Tardif 1997;Bales et al 2000Bales et al , 2001Dietz 2004). Unlike other anthropoid primates, callitrichid females typically give birth to twins and can produce two litters per year.…”

Section: Effects Of Group Sizementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Pups spent significantly more time alone in groups that had no juveniles than in groups in which juveniles were present. Similarly, although helpers reduce the costs of rearing offspring for callitrichid parents, especially fathers, housed in the laboratory (Price 1992;Santos et al 1997;Fite et al 2005), the number of juvenile helpers available does not seem to affect infant survival ( Jaquish et al 1997).…”

Section: Effects Of Group Sizementioning

confidence: 99%

The adaptive value of sociality in mammalian groups

Silk

2007

Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B

636

521

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According to behavioural ecology theory, sociality evolves when the net benefits of close association with conspecifics exceed the costs. The nature and relative magnitude of the benefits and costs of sociality are expected to vary across species and habitats. When sociality is favoured, animals may form groups that range from small pair-bonded units to huge aggregations. The size and composition of social groups have diverse effects on morphology and behaviour, ranging from the extent of sexual dimorphism to brain size, and the structure of social relationships. This general argument implies that sociality has fitness consequences for individuals. However, for most mammalian species, especially long-lived animals like primates, there are sizable gaps in the chain of evidence that links sociality and social bonds to fitness outcomes. These gaps reflect the difficulty of quantifying the cumulative effects of behavioural interactions on fitness and the lack of information about the nature of social relationships among individuals in most taxa. Here, I review what is known about the reproductive consequences of sociality for mammals.

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“…Few studies have looked at variables that can influence the number of infants born per reproductive attempt in callitrichids [Bales et al, ]. Jaquish et al [] found that there was low heritability of litter size, with only husbandry changes significant in the common marmoset. Increased cage volume and complexity, combined with increased protein content in the diet, were associated with a greater number of triplets.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Long‐term data on reproductive output and longevity in captive female common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus)

Ash

Buchanan‐Smith

2014

American J Primatol

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The common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) is widely used in biomedical research, with many housed for breeding purposes world-wide. Significant variation in reproductive output among females has been found compared to other anthropoid primates. The present study explores this reproductive variation, focusing on potential predictors of dam longevity and litter size, as well as changes over time. Back-record analysis was conducted, yielding litter information and reproductive summaries of 360 dams housed at three UK marmoset colonies over 4 decades (1970s-2000s). Results revealed differences among the colonies, as well as within colonies over decades, suggesting environment may play an important role. Cox proportional hazards regression analyses revealed significant effects of mean litter size and yearly production on dam longevity. Decade, mean inter-birth interval and mean dam weight were found to be significant factors explaining dam longevity when looking at colonies individually. The most commonly recorded cause of death was 'poor condition'. Linear regression models found that no reproductive variable was useful in explaining mean litter size, except dam weight at conception, data which was only consistently recorded at one colony. While triplets were common at all three colonies, these larger litters were consistently associated with higher infant mortality, despite human intervention to improve survival. This study increases our understanding of marmoset reproduction, and possible improvements to practical aspects of colony management to enhance survival and welfare are discussed.

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Interactions between infant growth and survival: Evidence for selection on age-specific body weight in captive common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus)

Cited by 15 publications

References 18 publications

Body mass growth in common marmosets: Toward a model of pediatric obesity

Body mass growth in common marmosets: Toward a model of pediatric obesity

The adaptive value of sociality in mammalian groups

Long‐term data on reproductive output and longevity in captive female common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus)

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