Social environment and masculinization level interact to explain testosterone levels in a communally rearing rodent: part 2: the female side

Testosterone is known as a “male” hormone; however, females also synthetize testosterone, which influences female sexual and aggressive behavior. In female vertebrates, season affects female testosterone levels as consequence of adrenal activation during the nursing season, as females are undergoing high energetic demands. However, female testosterone levels may also be related with female anogenital distance (AGD) phenotype (a proxy of prenatal androgen exposition), and the social group environment. We used data from a long-term rodent study (2009–2019) in a natural population of degus (Octodon degus) to examine the potential associations between female serum testosterone levels, season, female AGD phenotype, and social group composition. We quantified female serum testosterone levels during the mating and offspring rearing seasons, and we determined the number of females and males in social groups, as well the composition of groups, in terms of the AGD of the female and male group mat..., , , # SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT AND MASCULINIZATION LEVEL INTERACT TO EXPLAIN TESTOSTERONE LEVELS IN A COMMUNALLY REARING RODENT: PART 2: THE FEMALE SIDE

Data contained in this file correspond to individual and social group data from a wild population of degus (*Octodon degus*) and include data from two seasons (mating and offspring rearing) and eleven years (from 2009 to 2019). For model 1, use testosterone data from both sheets (1 and 2). For model 2, use data from sheet 1. For model 3, use data from sheet 2.

**Results 3.1.**
To test the prediction (i) about focal female serum testosterone levels vary across reproductive season, run model model 1.

**Results 3.2.**

To test predictions (ii and iii) about that potential effects of female AGD phenotype, number of females, and mean group female AGD, on female testosterone levels during mating season, run model 2.1. To test predictions (ii and iv) about that potential effects of female AGD phenotype, number of males, and mean group male AGD, on fe...