Seasonality in reproduction and reproductive physiology of caviomorphs

Animals experience seasonal fluctuations of photoperiod, food availability, temperature, and precipitation. This affects their energy budget, often leading to seasonal reproduction. We review available literature and (re)‐analyse existing datasets on seasonal reproduction of South American caviomorph rodents that are characterised by long pregnancies, typically precocial young, and short lactation. While births occur nearly year‐round in many species, reproductive investment and reproductive output (litter size, offspring mass and growth) vary seasonally, with the largest litters often occurring in spring/summer. Male, as well as female, reproductive physiology varies across seasons in most of the investigated species. Experimental studies manipulating environmental aspects that usually change seasonally (photoperiod, nutrition, density) indicate a slightly different mechanistic basis driving seasonal reproduction in caviomorphs than in rodents of the Northern Hemisphere. Caviomorphs ar..., The data provided here are raw data collected from animals living under natural or semi-natural conditions.
, , # Data from: Seasonality in Reproduction and Reproductive Physiology of Caviomorphs

[https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.3bk3j9kw8](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.3bk3j9kw8)

## Description of the data and file structure

file name: original_new_data_used_in_manuscript.xlsx

general: NA - indicates missing values

1. maturation in C. aperea:
* ID: animal identity
* birth: date and year of birth
* season: season of birth
* birth location: enclsoure of birth (=sire)
* date of mature: date of first full opneing of vaginal membrane
* date of mature - birth date
* maturation_age_days - age in days until first full opening of vaginal membrane
2. C. magna littersize:
* femaleID: identity of the mother
* littersize: number of pups born per litter
* season: season of birth
* parity: primipar - mother gives birth for the first time, multipar - experienced breeder
3. C. magna pup development:
* Pup_ID: animal identity
* birthmass: mass within 24h after birth (g)
...,