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Cantini D, Choleris E, Kavaliers M. Neurobiology of Pathogen Avoidance and Mate Choice: Current and Future Directions. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:296. [PMID: 38254465 PMCID: PMC10812398 DOI: 10.3390/ani14020296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2023] [Revised: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 01/13/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Animals are under constant threat of parasitic infection. This has influenced the evolution of social behaviour and has strong implications for sexual selection and mate choice. Animals assess the infection status of conspecifics based on various sensory cues, with odours/chemical signals and the olfactory system playing a particularly important role. The detection of chemical cues and subsequent processing of the infection threat that they pose facilitates the expression of disgust, fear, anxiety, and adaptive avoidance behaviours. In this selective review, drawing primarily from rodent studies, the neurobiological mechanisms underlying the detection and assessment of infection status and their relations to mate choice are briefly considered. Firstly, we offer a brief overview of the aspects of mate choice that are relevant to pathogen avoidance. Then, we specifically focus on the olfactory detection of and responses to conspecific cues of parasitic infection, followed by a brief overview of the neurobiological systems underlying the elicitation of disgust and the expression of avoidance of the pathogen threat. Throughout, we focus on current findings and provide suggestions for future directions and research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dante Cantini
- Department of Psychology, College of Social and Applied Human Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada;
| | - Elena Choleris
- Department of Psychology, College of Social and Applied Human Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada;
| | - Martin Kavaliers
- Department of Psychology, College of Social and Applied Human Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada;
- Department of Psychology, Western University, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada
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2
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Andrade RS, Cerveira AM, Mathias MDL, Varela SAM. Interaction time with conspecifics induces food preference or aversion in the wild Algerian mouse. Behav Processes 2023; 211:104927. [PMID: 37541397 DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2023.104927] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Revised: 07/05/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 08/06/2023]
Abstract
The social transmission of a novel food preference can avoid unnecessary costs arising from tasting nonedible foods. This type of social learning has been demonstrated in laboratory rats and mice. However, among wild animals, there may be several constraints that make it less effective. Using wild Algerian mice (Mus spretus) tested in the laboratory, we demonstrate that a preference for a novel food can be transmitted between Observer and Demonstrator individuals and that it is maintained for at least 30 days. However, only half of the Observers acquired a preference for the same food as the Demonstrators, and only when the duration of oronasal investigation was above a certain threshold (≥122 s); below this threshold (<122 s), Observers acquired a preference for the alternative food offered, which was maintained for a shorter time. Sex, size, and identity of individuals did not influence the transmission of social information. The results show that different interaction times will result in animals copying or avoiding the food choices of others. This suggests that the transmission of social information among wild animals is complex and probably influenced by many factors (e.g., dominance, familiarity, and health condition), ultimately conditioning the type of interaction between individuals and its outcome. Testing wild animals and the ecological and social constraints they face is, therefore, an important step in our understanding of how effectively social information is transmitted in nature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rita S Andrade
- Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal; CESAM - Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Ana M Cerveira
- CESAM - Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal; Departamento de Biologia, Universidade de Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Maria da Luz Mathias
- Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal; CESAM - Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Susana A M Varela
- IGC - Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, 2780-156 Oeiras, Portugal; WJCR - William James Center for Research, ISPA - Instituto Universitário, 1149-041 Lisboa, Portugal; cE3c - Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal.
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3
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Lantiegne TH, Purchase CF. Can cryptic female choice prevent invasive hybridization in external fertilizing fish? Evol Appl 2023; 16:1412-1421. [PMID: 37622094 PMCID: PMC10445091 DOI: 10.1111/eva.13573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2022] [Accepted: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Polyandrous mating systems result in females mating with multiple males, generating opportunities for strong pre-mating and post-mating sexual selection. Polyandry also creates the potential for unintended matings and subsequent sperm competition with hybridizing species. Cryptic female choice allows females to bias paternity towards preferred males under sperm competition and may include conspecific sperm preference when under hybridization risk. The potential for hybridization becomes particularly important in context of invasive species that can novelly hybridize with natives, and by definition, have evolved allopatrically. We provide the first examination of conspecific sperm preference in a system of three species with the potential to hybridize: North American native Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) and brook char (Salvelinus fontinalis), and invasive brown trout (Salmo trutta) from Europe. Using naturalized populations on the island of Newfoundland, we measured changes in sperm swimming performance, a known predictor of paternity, to determine the degree of modification in sperm swimming to female cues related to conspecific sperm preference. Compared to water alone, female ovarian fluid in general had a pronounced effect and changed sperm motility (by a mean of 53%) and swimming velocity (mean 30%), but not linearity (mean 6%). However, patterns in the degree of modification suggest there is no conspecific sperm preference in the North American populations. Furthermore, female cues from both native species tended to boost the sperm of invasive males more than their own. We conclude that cryptic female choice via ovarian fluid mediated sperm swimming modification is too weak in this system to prevent invasive hybridization and is likely insufficient to promote or maintain reproductive isolation between the native North American species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tyler H. Lantiegne
- Department of BiologyMemorial University of NewfoundlandSt. John'sNewfoundland & LabradorCanada
| | - Craig F. Purchase
- Department of BiologyMemorial University of NewfoundlandSt. John'sNewfoundland & LabradorCanada
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4
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Blumenthal SA, Young LJ. The Neurobiology of Love and Pair Bonding from Human and Animal Perspectives. BIOLOGY 2023; 12:844. [PMID: 37372130 PMCID: PMC10295201 DOI: 10.3390/biology12060844] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2023] [Revised: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 06/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023]
Abstract
Love is a powerful emotional experience that is rooted in ancient neurobiological processes shared with other species that pair bond. Considerable insights have been gained into the neural mechanisms driving the evolutionary antecedents of love by studies in animal models of pair bonding, particularly in monogamous species such as prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster). Here, we provide an overview of the roles of oxytocin, dopamine, and vasopressin in regulating neural circuits responsible for generating bonds in animals and humans alike. We begin with the evolutionary origins of bonding in mother-infant relationships and then examine the neurobiological underpinnings of each stage of bonding. Oxytocin and dopamine interact to link the neural representation of partner stimuli with the social reward of courtship and mating to create a nurturing bond between individuals. Vasopressin facilitates mate-guarding behaviors, potentially related to the human experience of jealousy. We further discuss the psychological and physiological stress following partner separation and their adaptive function, as well as evidence of the positive health outcomes associated with being pair-bonded based on both animal and human studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah A. Blumenthal
- Silvio O. Conte Center for Oxytocin and Social Cognition, Emory National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA
- Center for Translational Social Neuroscience, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA
| | - Larry J. Young
- Silvio O. Conte Center for Oxytocin and Social Cognition, Emory National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA
- Center for Translational Social Neuroscience, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
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5
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Lenschow C, Mendes ARP, Lima SQ. Hearing, touching, and multisensory integration during mate choice. Front Neural Circuits 2022; 16:943888. [PMID: 36247731 PMCID: PMC9559228 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2022.943888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2022] [Accepted: 06/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Mate choice is a potent generator of diversity and a fundamental pillar for sexual selection and evolution. Mate choice is a multistage affair, where complex sensory information and elaborate actions are used to identify, scrutinize, and evaluate potential mating partners. While widely accepted that communication during mate assessment relies on multimodal cues, most studies investigating the mechanisms controlling this fundamental behavior have restricted their focus to the dominant sensory modality used by the species under examination, such as vision in humans and smell in rodents. However, despite their undeniable importance for the initial recognition, attraction, and approach towards a potential mate, other modalities gain relevance as the interaction progresses, amongst which are touch and audition. In this review, we will: (1) focus on recent findings of how touch and audition can contribute to the evaluation and choice of mating partners, and (2) outline our current knowledge regarding the neuronal circuits processing touch and audition (amongst others) in the context of mate choice and ask (3) how these neural circuits are connected to areas that have been studied in the light of multisensory integration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Constanze Lenschow
- Champalimaud Foundation, Champalimaud Research, Neuroscience Program, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Ana Rita P Mendes
- Champalimaud Foundation, Champalimaud Research, Neuroscience Program, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Susana Q Lima
- Champalimaud Foundation, Champalimaud Research, Neuroscience Program, Lisbon, Portugal
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6
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Busso JM, Baechli J, Bellis LM, Landi MA, Villarreal DP. Social impact of mara pair disruption on the formation of new bonds and reproduction in a multiple mate choice context. Anim Behav 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2022.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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7
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Lo B, Freeman AR, Singh B, Hanadari-Levy A, Berman J, Chaves A, Choudhry A, Ophir AG. Effects of a GnRH agonist on sex behavior in females of the southern giant pouched rat. Integr Comp Biol 2022; 62:icac037. [PMID: 35588370 DOI: 10.1093/icb/icac037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In general, males should be particularly attentive to cues of sexual availability and females should advertise accordingly. Vaginal patency (i.e., the openness of the vagina) is a reliable indicator of sexual maturity; if the vagina is closed, the female is unable to copulate. The southern giant pouched rat (Cricetomys ansorgei) is unusual because females can have fully fused vaginal openings (i.e., vaginal nonpatency) despite being considered 'adults' by other metrics. Moreover, some females reversibly close their vaginal openings. Thus, vaginal patency in the pouched rat is a 'flexible' reproductive state. We subcutaneously implanted a long-acting GnRH agonist (deslorelin), which over time inhibits sex steroid secretion, to better understand the endocrinology and social behavior relating to vaginal patency in this species. We hypothesized that altering GnRH would impact both patency and behavior through its effects on circulating levels of estradiol. Six months of deslorelin treatment did not alter vaginal patency. Behaviorally, deslorelin-treated females spent less time interacting with, and were more aggressive towards males (compared to controls). Notably, deslorelin did not alter female scent marking. We conclude that behavioral receptivity, but not vaginal patency, is impacted by GnRH hormonal cascades in the pouched rat.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beverly Lo
- Cornell University, Department of Psychology, Ithaca, NY, 14853
| | - Angela R Freeman
- Cornell University, Department of Psychology, Ithaca, NY, 14853
- Salisbury University, Department of Biological Sciences, Salisbury, MD 21853
| | - Bhupinder Singh
- Cornell University, Center for Animal Resources and Education, Ithaca, NY, 14853
| | | | | | | | - Aumena Choudhry
- Cornell University, Department of Psychology, Ithaca, NY, 14853
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8
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Hobbs NJ, Ferkin MH. Effect of diet quality on food consumption and body mass in Microtus pennsylvanicus. J ETHOL 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s10164-022-00750-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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9
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Lutermann H, Butler KB, Bennett NC. Parasite-Mediated Mate Preferences in a Cooperatively Breeding Rodent. Front Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2022.838076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Females of many species discriminate among males when choosing a mate and this can bear indirect and direct benefits including the avoidance of parasite transmission from infested males. In rodents, this may be mediated by androgen hormones that affect the expression of urinary odors. Female choosiness may also vary with a female’s infestation status, with infested females being less choosy. In the current study we tested the preference of cooperatively breeding highveld mole-rat (Cryptomys hottentotus hottentotus) females for male urinary odors from healthy males and those naturally infested with a cestode (Mathevotaenia sp.). Thirty females (15 healthy, 15 infested) were allowed to explore a Y-maze with urine samples from healthy and infested males and the frequency of entering choice arms and chambers as well as the duration spend with each odor sample was recorded. Infestation status did neither affect male body mass, urinary testosterone, nor cortisol levels or the body condition of females. Although overall female activity was not affected by infestation status, infested females entered choice arms and chambers significantly less frequently than healthy females. Surprisingly, healthy females preferred odors from infested males while the opposite was true for infested females, independent of male hormone levels. As the study species lives in groups that tend to share the same infestation status, we suggest that highveld mole-rat females may exhibit a preference for unfamiliar odors, possibly as an indicator of genetic diversity, rather than discriminate between infestation status of males. Similar mechanisms may also play a role in other social species.
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10
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Sexual differences in responses of meadow voles to environmental cues in the presence of mink odor. Anim Cogn 2022; 25:1003-1011. [PMID: 35190904 DOI: 10.1007/s10071-022-01606-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2021] [Revised: 02/04/2022] [Accepted: 02/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Abstract
In rodents, defensive behaviors increase the chances of survival during a predator encounter. Observable rodent defensive behaviors have been shown to be influenced by the presence of predator odors and nearby environmental cues such as cover, odors from conspecifics and food availability. Our experiment tested whether a predator scent cue influenced refuge preference in meadow voles within a laboratory setting. We placed voles in an experimental apparatus with bedding soaked in mink scent versus olive oil as a control across from four tubes that either contained (a) a dark plastic covering, (b) opposite-sex conspecific odor, (c) a food pellet, or (d) an empty, unscented space. A three-way interaction of tube contents, subject sex, and the presence of mink or olive oil on the preference of meadow voles to spend time in each area of the experimental apparatus and their latency to enter each area of the apparatus revealed sex differences in the environmental preference of meadow voles facing the risk of predation. The environmental preference of female, but not male, meadow voles was altered by the presence of mink urine or olive oil. A similar trend was found in the latency of males and females to enter each area of the experimental apparatus. These differences suggest that each sex utilizes different methods to increase their fitness when experiencing a predation risk. The observed sex differences may be explained by the natural history of voles owing to the differences in territorial range and the dynamics of evasion of terrestrial predators.
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11
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Flexibility and rigidity in hunting behaviour in rodents: is there room for cognition? Anim Cogn 2022; 25:731-743. [PMID: 34993671 DOI: 10.1007/s10071-021-01588-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2021] [Revised: 11/21/2021] [Accepted: 11/24/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Predatory hunting is a complex species-typical behaviour involving different skills, some of which may include learning. This research aims to distinguish between rigid and flexible parts in live-insect hunting behaviour in nine herbivorous and granivorous rodent species, and to find out whether there is room for cognition in this activity. In laboratory experiments, all species studied manifest skilful attacks towards insects in a manner that is typical for specialised predators chasing a fleeing prey. Voles demonstrate a "core" and somewhat primitive scheme of a hunting pattern: approaching a potential victim, biting it, and then seizing and handling. Hamsters display the tendency to start their attacks by actions with paws, but they can achieve success only using teeth as well. Gerbils can successfully use both paws and teeth to start the attack, which brings their hunting behaviour closer to that of specialised rodent predators. We revealed variability in the display of hunting in different species, methods of seizing the prey, and the number of attempts to attack an insect before catching it. We found specific flexible fragments within the "bite-grasp-handle" bouts that can be precursors for adaptive phenotypic variations and include some cognitive attributes. We hypothesise that the divergence and specialisation of predatory behaviour in rodents can be based on the natural fragmentation of the original hunting patterns, that is, on the loss or recombination of particular behavioural elements. We consider a possible link between the fragmentation of hunting behaviour and social learning in different classes of animals and conjecture an intriguing correlation between predatory activity, cognitive skills and personal traits in rodents.
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12
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Freeman AR, Ophir AG. Sex differences in social odor discrimination by southern giant pouched rats (
Cricetomys ansorgei
). Ethology 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/eth.13223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Angela R. Freeman
- Department of Psychology Cornell University Ithaca New York USA
- Department of Biological Sciences Salisbury University Salisbury Maryland USA
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13
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Fuss T. Mate Choice, Sex Roles and Sexual Cognition in Vertebrates: Mate Choice Turns Cognition or Cognition Turns Mate Choice? Front Ecol Evol 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2021.749495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The idea of “smart is sexy,” meaning superior cognition provides competitive benefits in mate choice and, therefore, evolutionary advantages in terms of reproductive fitness, is both exciting and captivating. Cognitively flexible individuals perceive and adapt more dynamically to (unpredictable) environmental changes. The sex roles that females and males adopt within their populations can vary greatly in response to the prevalent mating system. Based on how cognition determines these grossly divergent sex roles, different selection pressures could possibly shape the (progressive) evolution of cognitive abilities, suggesting the potential to induce sexual dimorphisms in superior cognitive abilities. Associations between an individual’s mating success, sexual traits and its cognitive abilities have been found consistently across vertebrate species and taxa, providing evidence that sexual selection may well shape the supporting cognitive prerequisites. Yet, while superior cognitive abilities provide benefits such as higher feeding success, improved antipredator behavior, or more favorable mate choice, they also claim costs such as higher energy levels and metabolic rates, which in turn may reduce fecundity, growth, or immune response. There is compelling evidence in a variety of vertebrate taxa that females appear to prefer skilled problem-solver males, i.e., they prefer those that appear to have better cognitive abilities. Consequently, cognition is also likely to have substantial effects on sexual selection processes. How the choosing sex assesses the cognitive abilities of potential mates has not been explored conclusively yet. Do cognitive skills guide an individual’s mate choice and does learning change an individual’s mate choice decisions? How and to which extent do individuals use their own cognitive skills to assess those of their conspecifics when choosing a mate? How does an individual’s role within a mating system influence the choice of the choosing sex in this context? Drawing on several examples from the vertebrate world, this review aims to elucidate various aspects associated with cognitive sex differences, the different roles of males and females in social and sexual interactions, and the potential influence of cognition on mate choice decisions. Finally, future perspectives aim to identify ways to answer the central question of how the triad of sex, cognition, and mate choice interacts.
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14
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Schneeberger K, Eccard JA. Experience of social density during early life is associated with attraction to conspecific odour in the common vole (
Microtus arvalis
). Ethology 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/eth.13211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Karin Schneeberger
- Animal Ecology group University of Potsdam Potsdam Germany
- Applied Zoology and Nature Conservation University of Greifswald Greifswald Germany
| | - Jana A. Eccard
- Animal Ecology group University of Potsdam Potsdam Germany
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15
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Leedale AE, Thorley J, Clutton-Brock T. Odour-based social recognition in Damaraland mole-rats, Fukomys damarensis. Anim Behav 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2021.06.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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16
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Brem EA, Israelsen WJ. Courtship behavior of the meadow jumping mouse ( Zapus hudsonius). WEST N AM NATURALIST 2021; 81:267-272. [PMID: 34290569 PMCID: PMC8291725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
We describe the first recorded observations of courtship behavior of the meadow jumping mouse (Zapus hudsonius) made in wild-caught and captive-reared animals. Male meadow jumping mice performed a series of courtship behaviors upon approach to the female, including rapid fanning of the muzzle with the forelimbs, self-grooming, muzzle fanning, retreat, and eventual mounting attempts. During courtship, female jumping mice may retreat, ignore the courting male, or bat at the male with forelimbs until the male retreats. Active rejection of courting males by the female is suggestive of female mate choice in this species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ethan A. Brem
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75309
| | - William J. Israelsen
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75309
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17
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Intersexual Selection: How Females Choose. Anim Behav 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-82879-0_10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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18
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Tong WH, Abdulai-Saiku S, Vyas A. Medial Amygdala Arginine Vasopressin Neurons Regulate Innate Aversion to Cat Odors in Male Mice. Neuroendocrinology 2021; 111:505-520. [PMID: 32447337 DOI: 10.1159/000508862] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2020] [Accepted: 05/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Aversion to environmental cues of predators is an integral part of defensive behaviors in many prey animals. It enhances their survival and probability of future reproduction. At the same time, animals cannot be maximally defended because imperatives of defense usually trade-off with behaviors required for sexual reproduction like display of dominance and production of sexual pheromones. Here, we approach this trade-off through the lens of arginine vasopressin (AVP) neurons within the posterodorsal medial amygdala (MePD) of mice. This neuronal population is known to be involved in sexual behaviors like approach to sexually salient cues. We show that chemogenetic partial ablation of this neuronal population increases aversion to predator odors. Moreover, overexpression of AVP within this population is sufficient to reduce aversion to predator odors. The loss of fear of the predator odor occurs in parallel with increased recruitment of AVP neurons within the MePD. These observations suggest that AVP neurons in the medial aspect of the extended amygdala are a proximate locus for the reduction in innate fear during life stages dominated by reproductive efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen Han Tong
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Samira Abdulai-Saiku
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Ajai Vyas
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore,
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19
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Rohrer KN, Ferkin MH. Long‐term repeatability and stability of three personality traits in meadow voles. Ethology 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/eth.13037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Karl N. Rohrer
- Department of Biological Sciences University of Memphis Memphis TN USA
| | - Michael H. Ferkin
- Department of Biological Sciences University of Memphis Memphis TN USA
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20
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Clark KE, Messler KA, Ferkin MH. Sex differences in olfactory social recognition memory in meadow voles,
Microtus pennsylvanicus. Ethology 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/eth.13074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Kelsey E. Clark
- Department of Biological Sciences University of Memphis Memphis TN USA
| | - Kaitlynn A. Messler
- Department of Biological Sciences University of Memphis Memphis TN USA
- Department of Health Professions University of Tennessee Health Science Center Memphis TN USA
| | - Michael H. Ferkin
- Department of Biological Sciences University of Memphis Memphis TN USA
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21
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Santos PSC, Mezger M, Kolar M, Michler FU, Sommer S. The best smellers make the best choosers: mate choice is affected by female chemosensory receptor gene diversity in a mammal. Proc Biol Sci 2019; 285:20182426. [PMID: 30963892 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2018.2426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The products of the genes of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) are known to be drivers of pathogen resistance and sexual selection enhancing offspring genetic diversity. The MHC further influences individual odour types and social communication. However, little is known about the receptors and their volatile ligands that are involved in this type of chemical communication. Here, we have investigated chemosensory receptor genes that ultimately enable females to assess male genes through odour cues. As a model, we used an invasive population of North American raccoons ( Procyon lotor) in Germany. We investigated the effect of two groups of chemosensory receptor genes-trace amine-associated receptors (TAARs) and olfactory receptors (ORs)-on MHC-dependent mate choice. Females with more alleles of the TAAR or OR loci were more likely to choose a male with a diverse MHC. We additionally found that MHC class I genes have a stronger effect on mate choice than the recently reported effect for MHC class II genes, probably because of their immunological relevance for viral resistance. Our study is among the first to show a genetic link between behaviour and chemosensory receptor genes. These results contribute to understanding the link between genetics, olfaction and associated life-history decisions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pablo S C Santos
- 1 Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics, University of Ulm , Ulm , Germany
| | - Maja Mezger
- 1 Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics, University of Ulm , Ulm , Germany
| | - Miriam Kolar
- 1 Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics, University of Ulm , Ulm , Germany
| | - Frank-Uwe Michler
- 2 Institute of Forest Botany and Forest Zoology, Technical University of Dresden , Tharandt , Germany
| | - Simone Sommer
- 1 Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics, University of Ulm , Ulm , Germany
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22
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Abstract
AbstractMate choice is generally regarded as an independent event, but a growing body of evidence indicates that it can be influenced by social information provided by conspecifics. This is known as non-independent mate choice. Individuals use information gathered by observing interactions between conspecifics to copy or not copy the mate choice of these conspecifics. In this review, we examine the factors that affect non-independent mate choice and mate choice copying and how it is influenced by social and environmental information that is available to the subject or focal individual. Specifically, we discuss how non-independent mate choice and whether individuals copy the choices of conspecifics can be influenced by factors such as habitat and differences in ecology, mating system and parental care. We focus on the social information provided to the focal animal, the model and the audience. Nearly all studies of non-independent mate choice and mate copying have focused on individuals in species that use visual cues as the source of social information. Nevertheless, we highlight studies that indicate that individuals in some species may use chemical cues and signals as sources of social information that may affect non-independent mate choice and mate copying.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan C Scauzillo
- Department of Biological Sciences, Ellington Hall, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Michael H Ferkin
- Department of Biological Sciences, Ellington Hall, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN, USA
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Liang J, Yang J, Xie H, Peng X, He X, Sun Y, Zhang L. Impact of external odor on self-grooming of lesser flat-headed bats, Tylonycteris pachypus. Ecol Evol 2019; 9:8113-8118. [PMID: 31380075 PMCID: PMC6662324 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.5377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2018] [Revised: 05/15/2019] [Accepted: 05/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Grooming is a common behavior of some mammals. Previous studies have shown that grooming is a means by which animals clean themselves, remove ectoparasites, and lower their body temperature. It is also involved in olfactory communication. Bats belong to the order Chiroptera and, like most mammals, are the natural host of many ectoparasites. Bat grooming, including licking and scratching, is one of the ways to reduce the adverse effects caused by ectoparasites. Bat grooming may also be induced by exogenous odor. In this study, we used lesser flat-headed bats (Tylonycteris pachypus) to test the hypothesis that exogenous odor affects the self-grooming behavior of bats. Results showed that external odor from distantly related species caused lesser flat-headed bats to spend more time in self-grooming. Lesser flat-headed bats that received odor from humans spent the longest time in self-grooming, followed by those that received odor from a different species of bats (T. robustula). Lesser flat-headed bats that received odor form the same species of bats, either from the same or a different colony, spent the least amount of time in self-grooming. These results suggest that bats can recognize conspecific and heterospecific through body scent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Liang
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Conservation and Resource Utilization, Guangdong Public Laboratory of Wild Animal Conservation and UtilizationGuangdong Institute of Applied Biological ResourcesGuangzhouChina
| | - Jian Yang
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Conservation and Resource Utilization, Guangdong Public Laboratory of Wild Animal Conservation and UtilizationGuangdong Institute of Applied Biological ResourcesGuangzhouChina
| | - Huanwang Xie
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Conservation and Resource Utilization, Guangdong Public Laboratory of Wild Animal Conservation and UtilizationGuangdong Institute of Applied Biological ResourcesGuangzhouChina
| | - Xingwen Peng
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Conservation and Resource Utilization, Guangdong Public Laboratory of Wild Animal Conservation and UtilizationGuangdong Institute of Applied Biological ResourcesGuangzhouChina
| | - Xiangyang He
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Conservation and Resource Utilization, Guangdong Public Laboratory of Wild Animal Conservation and UtilizationGuangdong Institute of Applied Biological ResourcesGuangzhouChina
| | - Yunxiao Sun
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Conservation and Resource Utilization, Guangdong Public Laboratory of Wild Animal Conservation and UtilizationGuangdong Institute of Applied Biological ResourcesGuangzhouChina
| | - Libiao Zhang
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Conservation and Resource Utilization, Guangdong Public Laboratory of Wild Animal Conservation and UtilizationGuangdong Institute of Applied Biological ResourcesGuangzhouChina
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24
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Scent marks of rodents can provide information to conspecifics. Anim Cogn 2019; 22:445-452. [PMID: 30778801 DOI: 10.1007/s10071-019-01250-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2018] [Revised: 01/10/2019] [Accepted: 02/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
For a scent mark to be informative it must provide a reliable, honest signal that allows individuals that detect it to predict fitness tradeoffs if they choose or not choose to respond to it. I argue that scent marks provide a great deal of information about the sender to receivers. The manner in which an animal uses this information to make decisions will depend on the context and manner in which it encounters these scent marks. Receivers can use the information found in the scent marks and odors to locate the donor, learn its identity, determine the donor's phenotype or genotype, and assess whether the scent marks were encountered earlier by conspecifics. For receivers to make potentially informed decisions, when they encounter the scent marks of conspecifics with whom they have had different experiences across a variety of contexts higher level cognitive processing involving procedural memory, episodic memory, autobiographical memory and making judgements of numerical discrimination would be required. Senders should have some insight into the receivers to increase the likelihood that the targets respond appropriately to the scent mark by reducing uncertainty. The sender's state or the current state of the environment and the context will affect when and where the scent marks were deposited. Decisions to deposit scent marks and respond to them must represent a tradeoff in the benefits and costs to the sender and receivers in terms of their fitness and survival. The actual tradeoff should be context dependent and reflect the experience, physiology, and life history constraints affecting the receiver. Calculating these tradeoffs likely involves some cognitive processing and requires some sort of information transfer between the sender and the receiver.
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Smith C, Spence R, Reichard M. Sperm is a sexual ornament in rose bitterling. J Evol Biol 2018; 31:1610-1622. [PMID: 30066434 DOI: 10.1111/jeb.13357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2018] [Revised: 07/14/2018] [Accepted: 07/17/2018] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
In many taxa, odour cues mediate mating decisions. A key question is what these odours comprise, where they are produced, and what they signal. Using rose bitterling, fish that spawn in the gills of freshwater mussels, we investigated the role of sperm cues on female oviposition decisions using individuals of known MHC genotype. Male bitterling frequently released sperm prior to female oviposition and females responded with an increased probability of oviposition and released a greater number of eggs, particularly if males had a dissimilar MHC genotype. These mating preferences by females were shown to be adaptive, with MHC dissimilarity of males and females correlated positively with embryo survival. These results support a role for indirect benefits to rose bitterling mate choice, and we propose that sperm acts as a releaser pheromone in bitterling, functioning as a sexual ornament signalling male quality as a mate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carl Smith
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Brno, Czech Republic.,Department of Ecology and Vertebrate Zoology, University of Łódź, Łódź, Poland.,School of Biology and Bell-Pettigrew Museum of Natural History, University of St. Andrews, St. Andrews, UK
| | - Rowena Spence
- School of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of St. Andrews, St. Andrews, UK
| | - Martin Reichard
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Brno, Czech Republic
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