Meadow Voles and Prairie Voles Differ in the Length of Time They Prefer the Top‐Scent Donor of an Over‐Mark

Ferkin, Michael H.; Leonard, Stuart T.; Bartos, Kim; Schmick, Michelle K.

doi:10.1046/j.1439-0310.2001.00745.x

Cited by 11 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 42 publications

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“…For example, prairie voles are monogamous and live in family units, whereas meadow voles are polygynous, with females defending small territories against other females and males having large home ranges that overlap ranges of other males and territories of several females. There are indications that overmarking behavior and responses to overmarks differ between these 2 species (Ferkin 2001;Ferkin et al 2001), but at present, these results are not easily interpreted. Studies with house mice suggest that they saturate their environment with urine marks (Hurst 1987).…”

Section: Scent Overmarkingmentioning

confidence: 72%

“…Both male and female meadow voles, after being exposed to glass plates containing overmarks deposited by 2 individuals of the opposite sex (e.g., a female subject exposed to overmarks from 2 males) later preferred to approach and investigate the individual that provided the top scent or the wholebody odors of that individual (Ferkin 2001;Ferkin et al 2001;Johnston et al 1997aJohnston et al , 1997b. If the choice is between a novel individual and the individual with the top scent in the overmark, opposite-sexed meadow voles chose the individual providing the top scent.…”

Section: Scent Overmarkingmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Chemical Communication in Rodents: From Pheromones to Individual Recognition

Johnston

2003

Journal of Mammalogy

217

149

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In many species of rodents, sense of smell is the most important source of information about the social and nonsocial world. I selectively review the literature on chemical communication in this group, primarily as studied in the laboratory. I start with a discussion of the term ''pheromone,'' the types of chemical signals, and the mechanisms underlying responses to chemical signals. I discuss the chemical complexity of odors in rodents and the significance of multiple sources of odors. Efforts to chemically identify signals are reviewed briefly; some progress, especially with domestic house mice (Mus musculus domesticus), has been made, but new collaborations between chemists and biologists are needed. Three areas of current research are reviewed in detail: the role of the major histocompatibility complex in the production of body odors and the role of these odors in mate choice, the use of odors in kin recognition, and the functions of scent overmarking. both theory and specific hypotheses tested in experiments. Then I review some exciting areas of current research concerning chemical communication in rodents. I also refer to studies of chemical communication in other taxa because I think it is important to integrate ideas, terminology, and concepts across a wide range of species. As in any branch of biology, this kind of comparative approach will, one hopes, result in theories that have broad applicability.

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Section: Scent Overmarkingmentioning

confidence: 72%

Section: Scent Overmarkingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Chemical Communication in Rodents: From Pheromones to Individual Recognition

Johnston

2003

Journal of Mammalogy

217

149

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“…Adult prairie voles likely have repeated interactions with the same opposite-sex conspecifics and may be familiar with them (McGuire et al 1990). For prairie voles, overmarking the scent marks of conspecifics may help to deter intruders, indicate ownership of a territory, as well as communicate with their mate that the pair bond is intact (Ferkin et al 2001b).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Meadow voles and prairie voles differ in the percentage of conspecific marks they over-mark

Ferkin

Leonard

2004

acta ethol

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Many terrestrial mammals scent mark in areas containing the scent marks of conspecifics, and thus, may deposit their own scent marks on top of those that were deposited previously by conspecifics. This phenomenon, known as over-marking appears to play a role in same-sex competition or mate attraction. The present study determines whether meadow and prairie voles avoid over-marking the scent marks of conspecifics, target the scent marks of conspecifics and over-mark them, or randomly over-mark the scent marks of conspecifics. The data show that meadow and prairie voles adjust the number and location of scent marks that they deposit in areas marked previously by particular conspecifics. Male and female meadow and prairie voles target the scent marks of opposite-sex conspecifics and over-mark them. Female meadow and prairie voles also target the scent marks of female conspecifics. In contrast, male meadow and prairie voles over-mark the scent marks of male conspecifics in a random manner. By differentially overmarking the scent marks of conspecifics, voles may be able to communicate particular information to a variety of conspecifics.

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“…1994, 1995; Ferkin 1999; Johnston & Bhorade 1999; Cohen et al. 2001; Ferkin 2001; Ferkin et al. 2001, 2004; Ferkin & Pierce 2006).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Food Deprivation Suppresses a Preference for the Top‐Scent Mark of an Over‐Mark in Meadow Voles (Microtus pennsylvanicus)

2007

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Food availability affects whether mammals communicate their interest in interacting with opposite‐sex conspecifics. This study examined the responses of voles to over‐marks, and factors that influence the formation and maintenance of a preference for the top‐scent in an over‐mark. Specifically, we investigated how food deprivation affected the amount of time male and female voles exposed to an over‐mark, later responded to the marks of the top‐ and bottom‐scent donors when subsequently presented with the two scents side by side. Males and females that were not food deprived and males that were food deprived 6 h before exposure to an over‐mark later maintained a preference for the donor of the top‐scent mark compared with the donor of the bottom‐scent mark of the over‐mark. Females that were food deprived for 6 h before or after exposure of the over‐mark and males food deprived 6 h after the exposure to the over‐mark showed no preference for the top‐scent mark donor. Re‐feeding females that were food deprived for 6 h before exposure to an over‐mark was sufficient to restore their preference for the mark of the top‐scent male over that of the bottom‐scent male. The different responses of food‐deprived male and female voles to over‐marks of opposite‐sex conspecifics may be associated with differences in their tactics for interacting with potential mates and the higher energetic costs of reproduction in female voles than in male voles.

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Meadow Voles and Prairie Voles Differ in the Length of Time They Prefer the Top‐Scent Donor of an Over‐Mark

Cited by 11 publications

References 42 publications

Chemical Communication in Rodents: From Pheromones to Individual Recognition

Chemical Communication in Rodents: From Pheromones to Individual Recognition

Meadow voles and prairie voles differ in the percentage of conspecific marks they over-mark

Food Deprivation Suppresses a Preference for the Top‐Scent Mark of an Over‐Mark in Meadow Voles (Microtus pennsylvanicus)

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