Do females counter against costly males in the degu, Octodon degus?

Sexual conflict over reproduction may result in females incurring reproductive costs from males. Females may counter against costly males through social support from cohesive relationships with other females. In plural breeders, social support may promote communal offspring care, improving the number of offspring weaned and survival of offspring. We studied the common degu (Octodon degus), a plurally breeding rodent endemic to Chile, to evaluate (i) whether males negatively influence female reproduction, (ii) if cohesive female social relationships counter the influence of costly males, and (iii) whether females reproductively benefit from cohesive social relationships. Degu males delayed female offspring production and decreased the per capita number of offspring weaned by females. Contrary to expectations, cohesive female relationships were not associated with increased reproductive success. Our study suggests that females experience a reproductive cost associated with males that they attempt to counter through cohesive relationships, but cohesive relationships are not reproductively beneficial.