Experimental Manipulation of Territory Occupancy: Effects on Immigration of Female Prairie Voles

Jacquot, Joseph J.; Solomon, Nancy G.

doi:10.1644/bpr-019

Cited by 17 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 58 publications

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“…Although male and female prairie voles typically occupy the same amount of space, the ecological demands and selective pressures to maximize mating success for each sex likely lead to different functional uses of that space. Male prairie voles benefit most from aggressively defending their territory, guarding their mate, and protecting their paternity (Getz and Hofmann, 1986; Getz et al, 1997; Jacquot and Solomon, 2004; McGuire et al, 1990). This adaptive behavior of territoriality has high cognitive demands for effectively processing spatial information.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Thus, it is not surprising that males might experience more intense selection and cognitive demand for hippocampal dependent tasks compared to females. Despite the fact that prairie voles lack sex differences in outward morphology and territory size, evidence from studies on prairie vole life history provides evolutionary support for the conclusion that males have more ecological demands for spatial cognition (Getz and Hofmann, 1986; Getz et al, 1997; Jacquot and Solomon, 2004; McGuire et al, 1990). …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Cryptic sexual dimorphism in spatial memory and hippocampal oxytocin receptors in prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster)

Rice

Hobbs

Wallace

et al. 2017

Hormones and Behavior

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Sex differences are well documented and are conventionally associated with intense sex-specific selection. For example, spatial memory is frequently better in males, presumably due to males’ tendency to navigate large spaces to find mates. Alternatively, monogamy (in which sex-specific selection is relatively relaxed) should diminish or eliminate differences in spatial ability and the mechanisms associated with this behavior. Nevertheless, phenotypic differences between monogamous males and females persist, sometimes cryptically. We hypothesize that sex-specific cognitive demands are present in monogamous species that will influence neural and behavioral phenotypes. The effects of these demands should be observable in spatial learning performance and neural structures associated with spatial learning and memory. We analyzed spatial memory performance, hippocampal volume and cell density, and hippocampal oxytocin receptor (OTR) expression in the socially monogamous prairie vole. Compared to females, males performed better in a spatial memory and spatial learning test. Although we found no sex difference in hippocampal volume or cell density, male OTR density was significantly lower than females, suggesting that performance may be regulated by sub-cellular mechanisms within the hippocampus that are less obvious than classic neuroanatomical features. Our results suggest an expanded role for oxytocin beyond facilitating social interactions, which may function in part to integrate social and spatial information.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cryptic sexual dimorphism in spatial memory and hippocampal oxytocin receptors in prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster)

Rice

Hobbs

Wallace

et al. 2017

Hormones and Behavior

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show abstract

“…Because most male prairie voles are paired ‘residents’ (Getz et al 1993; Solomon & Jacquot 2002; Ophir et al 2008) and residency appears to be associated with territoriality (Getz & Hofmann 1986; McGuire et al 1990; Getz et al 1997; Jacquot & Solomon 2004), we prefer the hypothesis that social recognition might enhance reproductive success through male–male competition for territory. This interpretation implies that knowing the identity of male neighbours is important to males, and it may enhance their ability to establish and possibly defend territories from known conspecifics.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Thus, male motivation to investigate females for which sexual receptivity has not been induced should be comparable to that of rats and mice that are exposed to ovariectomized females without the need to perform surgery on stimulus females. Although field studies have indicated that territorial aggression probably results in exclusion of competitor males from established home ranges (Getz & Hofmann 1986; McGuire et al 1990; Getz et al 1997; Jacquot & Solomon 2004), prairie vole aggression in the laboratory is relatively low in males that are not pair bonded (Pitkow et al 2001; Young & Wang 2004; Gobrogge et al 2009). Thus, the likelihood of male–male aggression interfering with measures of social recognition when using single adult males as stimulus animals is low.…”

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confidence: 99%

Social recognition is context dependent in single male prairie voles

et al. 2013

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Single males might benefit from knowing the identity of neighbouring males when establishing and defending boundaries. Similarly, males should discriminate between individual females if this leads to more reproductive opportunities. Contextual social cues may alter the value of learning identity. Knowing the identity of competitors that intrude into an animal’s territory may be more salient than knowing the identity of individuals on whose territory an animal is trespassing. Hence, social and environmental context could affect social recognition in many ways. Here we test social recognition of socially monogamous single male prairie voles, Microtus ochrogaster. In experiment 1 we tested recognition of male or female conspecifics and found that males discriminated between different males but not between different females. In experiment 2 we asked whether recognition of males is influenced when males are tested in their own cage (familiar), in a clean cage (neutral) or in the home cage of another male (unfamiliar). Although focal males discriminated between male conspecifics in all three contexts, individual variation in recognition was lower when males were tested in their home cage (in the presence of familiar social cues) compared to when the context lacked social cues (neutral). Experiment 1 indicates that selective pressures may have operated to enhance male territorial behaviour and indiscriminate mate selection. Experiment 2 suggests that the presence of a conspecific cue heightens social recognition and that home-field advantages might extend to social cognition. Taken together, our results indicate social recognition depends on the social and possibly territorial context.

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“…Prairie voles are biparental, monogamous, and live primarily in social pairs, but can also form larger philopatric groups [24, 25]. Prairie voles are commonly described as a highly social and affiliative species, and the deeper understanding of mechanisms governing bonding and attachment between mating partners has propelled this species to be considered a model organism for human love, attachment, and social behavior [26•-28].…”

Section: A Tale Of Two Species: When Predictors Of Sociality Do Not Gmentioning

confidence: 99%

Compared to what: what can we say about nonapeptide function and social behavior without a frame of reference?

Kelly

Ophir

2015

Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences

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Our understanding of behavior and mechanism is undermined by the absence of a frame of reference because relationships between individuals and species are without context. We highlight a need to be more comparative, using nonapeptide (vasopressin and oxytocin) modulation of social behavior as an example. We reconsider the use of model organisms and the term ‘social’ in this context, contrasting two popular models for nonapeptide regulation of social behavior. We then propose that a frame of reference should be established by studying mechanisms of behavior across taxa along the same continua. If we are to ever establish a unifying theory of behavior, we must transcend individual examples and determine the relative relationships of behavior and mechanism among and between species.

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Experimental Manipulation of Territory Occupancy: Effects on Immigration of Female Prairie Voles

Cited by 17 publications

References 58 publications

Cryptic sexual dimorphism in spatial memory and hippocampal oxytocin receptors in prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster)

Cryptic sexual dimorphism in spatial memory and hippocampal oxytocin receptors in prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster)

Social recognition is context dependent in single male prairie voles

Compared to what: what can we say about nonapeptide function and social behavior without a frame of reference?

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