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Claase MJ, Cherry MI, McNutt JW, Apps PJ, Jordan NR. Size matters: Natural experiments suggest the dear enemy effect is moderated by pack size in African wild dogs. Ecol Evol 2024; 14:e11298. [PMID: 38638370 PMCID: PMC11024447 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.11298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Revised: 03/28/2024] [Accepted: 04/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Remote monitoring of communal marking sites, or latrines, provides a unique opportunity to observe undisturbed scent marking behaviour of African wild dogs (Lycaon pictus). We used remote camera trap observations in a natural experiment to test behavioural scent mark responses to rivals (either familiar neighbours or unfamiliar strangers), to determine whether wild dogs exhibit the "dear enemy" or "nasty neighbour" response. Given that larger groups of wild dogs represent a greater threat to smaller groups, including for established residents, we predicted that the overarching categories "dear enemy" vs. "nasty neighbour" may be confounded by varying social statuses that exists between individual dyads interacting. Using the number of overmarks as a metric, results revealed an interaction between sender and receiver group size irrespective of familiarity consistent with this prediction: in general, individuals from large resident packs overmarked large groups more than they overmarked smaller groups, whereas individuals from smaller packs avoided overmarking larger groups, possibly to avoid detection. Monitoring a natural system highlights variables such as pack size that may be either overlooked or controlled during scent presentation experiments, influencing our ability to gain insights into the factors determining territorial responses to rivals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan J. Claase
- Department of Botany & ZoologyStellenbosch UniversityMatielandSouth Africa
- Botswana Predator Conservation, Wild Entrust AfricaMaunBotswana
| | - Mike I. Cherry
- Department of Botany & ZoologyStellenbosch UniversityMatielandSouth Africa
| | | | - Peter J. Apps
- Botswana Predator Conservation, Wild Entrust AfricaMaunBotswana
- Department of ZoologyNelson Mandela UniversityPort ElizabethSouth Africa
| | - Neil R. Jordan
- Botswana Predator Conservation, Wild Entrust AfricaMaunBotswana
- Centre for Ecosystem Science, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental SciencesUniversity of New South Wales (UNSW)SydneyNew South WalesAustralia
- Taronga Institute of Science and Learning, Taronga Western Plains Zoo, Taronga Conservation SocietyDubboNew South WalesAustralia
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2
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Nicolaides SG, Mostert THC, McIntyre T. Latrine site selection by African clawless otters, Aonyx capensis, and their behavior during latrine visitations. J Mammal 2024; 105:107-121. [PMID: 38314440 PMCID: PMC10838015 DOI: 10.1093/jmammal/gyad118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Latrine sites are used as areas for the deposition of scent-containing excretions and play important roles in intraspecific olfactory communication, territoriality, sexual attraction, and defense behaviors of many mammals. African clawless otters (Aonyx capensis) likely use latrine sites as primary areas for scent marking and scent communication but no studies to date have investigated their potential role or site selection. We assessed latrine site selection at 2 spatial scales (micro- and macroscale) and recorded behaviors via camera trap recordings. Thirty-eight latrine sites were identified and assessed at 2 locations in Mtunzini on the north coast of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa (uMlalazi Nature Reserve and Zini Fish Farm) during the months of August to November 2021. Latrine sites were identified through several intensive surveys, while we characterized nonselected sites through a systematic sampling approach. Latrine and control sites were inventoried along a 52-m buffer around all water bodies in both study areas. At each site we measured a series of potential environmental predictors, including horizontal and vertical vegetation cover, surface slope, and averaged wind speeds for days classified as relatively wind-still and relatively windy. To assess the relative role of various environmental predictors, we used a binomial generalized linear model resource selection function to model both spatial scales of latrine site selection. The majority of latrine sites were located at the ecotone between 2 vegetation units or between a vegetation unit and a water source. At a macroscale, latrine sites were associated with areas containing little vegetative substrate cover and minimal canopy cover. The top-ranked models at the microscale also indicated that latrine sites were characterized as occurring in open areas with less canopy and horizontal cover and on flatter areas that are relatively protected against wind. The most common behaviors recorded at 3 latrine sites were the "jiggle dance" (42%) and sniffing (29%). We hypothesize that otters evaluate numerous environmental parameters to enhance the functionality of latrine sites. For example, sites with little vegetative cover may increase the conspicuousness of latrines to conspecifics, while areas exposed to less wind likely aid in the retention of scent. Ongoing research is characterizing the behaviors of otters around latrines and chemical signatures of latrine sites in an effort to facilitate interpretation of their social function to African clawless otters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie G Nicolaides
- Department of Life and Consumer Sciences, University of South Africa, Roodepoort 1710, South Africa
| | | | - Trevor McIntyre
- Department of Life and Consumer Sciences, University of South Africa, Roodepoort 1710, South Africa
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3
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Walker BJJ, Letnic M, Bucknall MP, Watson L, Jordan NR. Male dingo urinary scents code for age class and wild dingoes respond to this information. Chem Senses 2024; 49:bjae004. [PMID: 38319120 DOI: 10.1093/chemse/bjae004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Chemical information in canid urine has been implicated in territoriality and influences the spacing of individuals. We identified the key volatile organic compound (VOC) components in dingo (Canis lupus dingo) urine and investigated the potential role of scents in territorial spacing. VOC analysis, using headspace gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), demonstrated that the information in fresh urine from adult male dingoes was sufficient to allow statistical classification into age categories. Discriminant function analyses demonstrated that the relative amounts or combinations of key VOCs from pre-prime (3-4 years), prime (5-9 years), and post-prime (≥10 years) males varied between these age categories, and that scents exposed to the environment for 4 (but not 33) days could still be classified to age categories. Further, a field experiment showed that dingoes spent less time in the vicinity of prime male dingo scents than other scents. Collectively, these results indicate that age-related scent differences may be discriminable by dingoes. Previous authors have suggested the potential to use scent as a management tool for wild canids by creating an artificial territorial boundary/barrier. Our results suggest that identifying the specific signals in prime-age male scents could facilitate the development of scent-based tools for non-lethal management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin J J Walker
- Centre for Ecosystem Science, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, UNSW Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
- Evolution and Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, UNSW Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Mike Letnic
- Centre for Ecosystem Science, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, UNSW Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
- Evolution and Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, UNSW Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Martin P Bucknall
- Bioanalytical Mass Spectrometry Facility, Mark Wainwright Analytical Centre, UNSW Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Lyn Watson
- Dingo Discovery Sanctuary and Research Centre, Australian Dingo Foundation, P.O. Box 502, Gisborne, VIC, Australia
| | - Neil R Jordan
- Centre for Ecosystem Science, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, UNSW Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
- Taronga Institute of Science and Learning, Taronga Western Plains Zoo, Taronga Conservation Society, Dubbo, NSW 2830, Australia
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Miller CH, Haxhillari K, Hillock MF, Reichard TM, Sheehan MJ. Scent mark signal investment predicts fight dynamics in house mice. Proc Biol Sci 2023; 290:20222489. [PMID: 36787797 PMCID: PMC9928526 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2022.2489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Signals mediate competitive interactions by allowing rival assessment, yet are often energetically expensive to produce. One of the key mechanisms maintaining signal reliability is social costs. While the social costs of over-signalling are well known, the social costs of under-signalling are underexplored, particularly for dynamic signals. In this study, we investigate a dynamic and olfactory-mediated signalling system that is ubiquitous among mammals: scent marking. Male house mice territorially scent mark their environment with metabolically costly urine marks. Competitive male mice are thought to deposit abundant scent marks in the environment. However, we recently identified a cohort of low-marking males that win fights. We hypothesized that there may be social costs imposed on individuals who under-invest in signalling. Here we find that scent mark investment predicts fight dynamics. Winning males that produce fewer scent marks prior to a fight engage in more intense fights that take longer to resolve. This effect appears to be driven by an unwillingness among losers to acquiesce to weakly signalling winners. We, therefore, find evidence for rival assessment of scent marks as well as social costs to under-signalling. This supports existing hypotheses for the importance of social punishment in maintaining optimal signalling equilibria. Our results further highlight the possibility of diverse signalling strategies in house mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caitlin H. Miller
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Klaudio Haxhillari
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Matthew F. Hillock
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Tess M. Reichard
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Michael J. Sheehan
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
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5
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Tilker A, Sinovas P. Reading the signs: Camera-trapping provides new insights on scent marking in the large-antlered muntjac ( Muntiacus vuquangensis). Ecol Evol 2023; 13:e9692. [PMID: 36694550 PMCID: PMC9842881 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.9692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2022] [Revised: 11/28/2022] [Accepted: 12/05/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
We present evidence of scent marking in the large-antlered muntjac (Muntiacus vuquangensis). Given the importance of scent marking in individual recognition among ungulates, this behavior may serve to communicate the fitness cost of antagonistic interactions among rival males and could serve as a mechanism for mate assessment among females.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Tilker
- Re:wildAustinTexasUSA,Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife ResearchBerlinGermany
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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: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [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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Mattila HR, Shimano S, Otis GW, Nguyen LTP, Maul ER, Billen J. Linking the Morphology of Sternal Glands to Rubbing Behavior by Vespa soror (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) Workers During Recruitment for Group Predation. Ann Entomol Soc Am 2022; 115:202-216. [PMID: 35295920 PMCID: PMC8921610 DOI: 10.1093/aesa/saab048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The activities of social insect colonies are supported by exocrine glands and the tremendous functional diversity of the compounds that they secrete. Many social wasps in the subfamilies Vespinae and Polistinae have two sternal glands-the van der Vecht and Richards' glands-that vary in their features and function across the species in which they are found. Field observations suggest that giant hornets use secretions from the van der Vecht gland to chemically mark targeted nests when workers initiate group attacks on social insect prey. However, descriptions of giant hornets' sternal glands and details about their recruitment behavior are lacking. We describe the morphology of the sternal glands of the giant hornet Vespa soror du Buysson and consider their potential to contribute to a marking pheromone. We also assess the gastral rubbing behavior of workers as they attacked Apis cerana F. (Hymenoptera: Apidae) colonies. V. soror workers have well-developed van der Vecht and Richards' glands on their terminal gastral sternites, with morphologies that robustly support the synthesis, storage, and dissemination of their secretory products. Observations confirm that the van der Vecht gland is exposed during gastral rubbing, but that the Richards' gland and glands associated with the sting apparatus may also contribute to a marking pheromone. Workers briefly but repeatedly rubbed their gasters around hive entrances and on overhead vegetation. Colonies were heavily marked over consecutive attacks. Our findings provide insight into the use of exocrine secretions by giant hornets as they recruit nestmates to prey colonies for group attacks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather R Mattila
- Department of Biological Sciences, Wellesley College, Wellesley, MA, USA
| | - Satoshi Shimano
- Science Research Center, Hosei University, Fujimi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Gard W Otis
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, Canada
| | - Lien T P Nguyen
- Insect Ecology Department, Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Nghia Do, Cau Giay, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Erica R Maul
- Department of Biological Sciences, Wellesley College, Wellesley, MA, USA
| | - Johan Billen
- Zoological Institute, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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Scauzillo RC, Ferkin MH. Do male meadow voles ( Microtus pennsylvanicus) always prefer and signal to 'popular' females? The role of social information context. Biol Lett 2022; 18:20220017. [PMID: 35291886 PMCID: PMC8923817 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2022.0017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
For males, the behaviour of rival conspecifics can provide vital information about finding reproductively available females, and which have high-quality phenotypes. While valuable, this information represents sperm competition risk and even the potential for rejection by females. Thus, males should show flexibility in signalling behaviours towards females based on social information acquired with emphasis on the context of that information. We examined male meadow vole scent-marking behaviours and preferences for females based on previously obtained social information across different contexts. Social information context resulted in increased scent marking depending on the social odour pairing. Males scent marked more near a female whose odour had associated with three older rivals than one younger rival. But males marked equally toward a female whose odour had associated with three younger rivals and a female whose odour had associated with one older rival. This demonstrates that social odours are not of all equal value and that males can distinguish differences. Males then use these differences to tailor their signalling towards potentially high-quality phenotype females thereby maximizing their reproductive opportunities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan C Scauzillo
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Memphis, Ellington Hall, Memphis, TN 38512, USA
| | - Michael H Ferkin
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Memphis, Ellington Hall, Memphis, TN 38512, USA
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Thompson CL, Bottenberg KN, Lantz AW, de Oliveira MAB, Melo LCO, Vinyard CJ. What smells? Developing in-field methods to characterize the chemical composition of wild mammalian scent cues. Ecol Evol 2020; 10:4691-4701. [PMID: 32551053 PMCID: PMC7297786 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.6224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2019] [Revised: 02/18/2020] [Accepted: 03/02/2020] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Olfactory cues play an important role in mammalian biology, but have been challenging to assess in the field. Current methods pose problematic issues with sample storage and transportation, limiting our ability to connect chemical variation in scents with relevant ecological and behavioral contexts. Real-time, in-field analysis via portable gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) has the potential to overcome these issues, but with trade-offs of reduced sensitivity and compound mass range. We field-tested the ability of portable GC-MS to support two representative applications of chemical ecology research with a wild arboreal primate, common marmoset monkeys (Callithrix jacchus). We developed methods to (a) evaluate the chemical composition of marmoset scent marks deposited at feeding sites and (b) characterize the scent profiles of exudates eaten by marmosets. We successfully collected marmoset scent marks across several canopy heights, with the portable GC-MS detecting known components of marmoset glandular secretions and differentiating these from in-field controls. Likewise, variation in the chemical profile of scent marks demonstrated a significant correlation with marmoset feeding behavior, indicating these scents' biological relevance. The portable GC-MS also delineated species-specific olfactory signatures of exudates fed on by marmosets. Despite the trade-offs, portable GC-MS represents a viable option for characterizing olfactory compounds used by wild mammals, yielding biologically relevant data. While the decision to adopt portable GC-MS will likely depend on site- and project-specific needs, our ability to conduct two example applications under relatively challenging field conditions bodes well for the versatility of in-field GC-MS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cynthia L. Thompson
- Department of Biomedical SciencesGrand Valley State UniversityAllendaleMIUSA
| | | | - Andrew W. Lantz
- Department of ChemistryGrand Valley State UniversityAllendaleMIUSA
| | - Maria A. B. de Oliveira
- Departamento de Morfologia e Fisiologia AnimalUniversidade Federal Rural de PernambucoRecifeBrazil
| | - Leonardo C. O. Melo
- Departamento de Morfologia e Fisiologia AnimalUniversidade Federal Rural de PernambucoRecifeBrazil
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McGuire B, Fry K, Orantes D, Underkofler L, Parry S. Sex of Walker Influences Scent-marking Behavior of Shelter Dogs. Animals (Basel) 2020; 10:ani10040632. [PMID: 32272557 PMCID: PMC7222742 DOI: 10.3390/ani10040632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2020] [Revised: 03/31/2020] [Accepted: 04/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary In diverse settings, human presence and handling influence the behavior and physiology of other animals, often causing increased vigilance and stress, especially if the human is unfamiliar. Domestic dogs are unusual in that human interaction often reduces stress and behavioral signs of stress. Nevertheless, there is some evidence that the sex of an unfamiliar person can influence canine behavior. To determine whether sex of an unfamiliar walker might influence the behavior of dogs at an animal shelter, we observed 100 dogs during leash walks and recorded all occurrences of scent-marking behaviors. Male dogs urinated at higher rates when walked by unfamiliar women than when walked by unfamiliar men. Female dogs urinated at similar rates when walked by unfamiliar men and unfamiliar women. Sex of walker also influenced urinary posture in male dogs. Both male and female dogs were more likely to defecate when walked by unfamiliar women than when walked by unfamiliar men. Based on our findings, and those of others, we suggest that the sex of all observers and handlers be reported in behavioral studies of dogs and considered in behavioral evaluations at animal shelters, where results can impact whether or not a dog is made available for adoption. Abstract Interactions with humans influence the behavior and physiology of other animals, and the response can vary with sex and familiarity. Dogs in animal shelters face challenging conditions and although contact with humans typically reduces stress and behaviors associated with stress, evidence indicates that shelter dogs react differently to unfamiliar men and women. Given that some aspects of canine scent-marking behavior change under fearful conditions, we examined whether sex of an unfamiliar walker would influence scent-marking behavior of 100 shelter dogs during leash walks. Male dogs urinated at higher rates when walked by unfamiliar women than when walked by unfamiliar men; female dogs urinated at similar rates when walked by unfamiliar women and unfamiliar men. Sex of walker influenced urinary posture in male dogs, but not in female dogs. Both male and female dogs were more likely to defecate when walked by unfamiliar women than by unfamiliar men. Based on our findings that shelter dogs behave differently in the presence of unfamiliar men and women, we suggest that researchers conducting behavioral studies of dogs record, consider in analyses, and report the sex of observers and handlers as standard practice. We also recommend recording the sex of shelter staff present at behavioral evaluations because the results of these evaluations can impact dog welfare.
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Affiliation(s)
- Betty McGuire
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA; (K.F.); (D.O.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Kentner Fry
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA; (K.F.); (D.O.)
| | - Destiny Orantes
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA; (K.F.); (D.O.)
| | | | - Stephen Parry
- Cornell Statistical Consulting Unit, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA;
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Lebedev MA, Pimashkin A, Ossadtchi A. Navigation Patterns and Scent Marking: Underappreciated Contributors to Hippocampal and Entorhinal Spatial Representations? Front Behav Neurosci 2018; 12:98. [PMID: 29922134 PMCID: PMC5996749 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2018.00098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2018] [Accepted: 04/25/2018] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
According to the currently prevailing theory, hippocampal formation constructs and maintains cognitive spatial maps. Most of the experimental evidence for this theory comes from the studies on navigation in laboratory rats and mice, typically male animals. While these animals exhibit a rich repertoire of behaviors associated with navigation, including locomotion, head movements, whisking, sniffing, raring and scent marking, the contribution of these behavioral patterns to the hippocampal spatially-selective activity has not been sufficiently studied. Instead, many publications have considered animal position in space as the major variable that affects the firing of hippocampal place cells and entorhinal grid cells. Here we argue that future work should focus on a more detailed examination of different behaviors exhibited during navigation to better understand the mechanism of spatial tuning in hippocampal neurons. As an inquiry in this direction, we have analyzed data from two datasets, shared online, containing recordings from rats navigating in square and round arenas. Our analyses revealed patchy navigation patterns, evident from the spatial maps of animal position, velocity and acceleration. Moreover, grid cells available in the datasets exhibited similar periodicity as the navigation parameters. These findings indicate that activity of grid cells could affect navigation parameters and/or vice versa. Additionally, we speculate that scent marks left by navigating animals could contribute to neuronal responses while rats and mice sniff their environment; the act of sniffing could modulate neuronal discharges even in virtual visual environments. Accordingly, we propose that future experiments should contain additional controls for navigation patterns, whisking, sniffing and maps composed of scent marks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mikhail A. Lebedev
- Department of Neurobiology, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States
- Center for Bioelectric Interfaces of the Institute for Cognitive Neuroscience of the National Research University Higher School of Economics, Moscow, Russia
| | - Alexey Pimashkin
- Laboratory of Neuroengineering, Center of Translational Technologies, Lobachevsky State University of Nizhni Novgorod, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia
| | - Alexei Ossadtchi
- Center for Bioelectric Interfaces of the Institute for Cognitive Neuroscience of the National Research University Higher School of Economics, Moscow, Russia
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Lebedev MA, Ossadtchi A. Commentary: Spatial Olfactory Learning Contributes to Place Field Formation in the Hippocampus. Front Syst Neurosci 2018; 12:8. [PMID: 29692712 PMCID: PMC5902690 DOI: 10.3389/fnsys.2018.00008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2017] [Accepted: 03/12/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Mikhail A Lebedev
- Department of Neurobiology, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States.,Center for Bioelectric Interfaces of the Institute for Cognitive Neuroscience of the National Research University Higher School of Economics, Moscow, Russia
| | - Alexei Ossadtchi
- Center for Bioelectric Interfaces of the Institute for Cognitive Neuroscience of the National Research University Higher School of Economics, Moscow, Russia
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13
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Walker-Bolton AD, Parga JA. "Stink flirting" in ring-tailed lemurs (Lemur catta): Male olfactory displays to females as honest, costly signals. Am J Primatol 2017; 79. [PMID: 29140563 DOI: 10.1002/ajp.22724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2017] [Revised: 10/19/2017] [Accepted: 10/23/2017] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Sexual selection for honest behavioral displays of quality has driven the development of remarkably complex courtship behavior in many animal species. Olfactory displays are often overlooked as an area of inquiry compared to auditory and visual displays. Ring-tailed lemur (Lemur catta) scent marking of substrates has been studied extensively, although the male olfactory displays of anointing and wafting tails to females has received relatively little attention. We studied the role of male olfactory displays to females, evaluating whether such signals function as honest, costly signals of male dominance status in two groups of wild L. catta at Berenty Reserve, Madagascar. Our results suggest that male tail anointing and tail wafting displays to pre-estrous and estrous females are correlated with male dominance rank, and moreover appear to operate as costly signals, as such displays increase aggression received from males and females while other types of scent marking do not. Furthermore, females showed greater mating preference (as measured by sexual presents) for resident males who performed the "anoint tail" and "waft tail" displays towards them. When males perform the "anoint tail" and "waft tail" displays to females, they receive higher levels of aggression than if they were to perform other types of scent marking. Interestingly, immigrating (peripheral) males performed the "anoint tail" and "waft tail" displays at higher rates than resident males, which could honestly indicate their quality or may simply be associated with the alternative mating strategy of transferring between groups to gain mating opportunities. Our finding that tail anointing and tail wafting displays function as honest signals of dominance for resident males-and that these costly displays appear to positively affect female mate choice-is the first evidence of this function for this particular olfactory signal in L. catta.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Joyce A Parga
- Department of Anthropology, California State University, Los Angeles, California
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Abstract
Scent marking is often assumed to be a secondary sexual trait that increases males' mating and reproductive success, although direct evidence for this hypothesis is lacking. We conducted a study with wild-derived house mice, Mus musculus musculus, to test whether scent marking increases males' reproductive success when females can freely choose between two territorial males. We also experimentally manipulated males' competitive scent marking by exchanging scent-marked tiles between the neighbouring males' territories (intrusion treatment) or relocating males' tiles within their own territory (control). Experimental animals were tested twice and we examined whether individual males were consistent in their marking. We found that males marked more in the intrusion treatment than controls and more at shared territorial borders than elsewhere. We found high day-to-day variation in most individuals' scent marking, and yet the sum of individuals' scent marking was consistent over time and across different social conditions. Genetic paternity analyses revealed that males' scent marking significantly increased their reproductive success in both the intrusion treatment and the controls. Surprisingly, however, female social preference was not positively correlated with male scent marking. These results provide direct evidence that scent marking increases males' reproductive success when females can choose their mates, even though it did not increase females' social preferences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kerstin E Thonhauser
- Konrad Lorenz Institute of Ethology, Department of Integrative Biology and Evolution, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| | - Shirley Raveh
- Konrad Lorenz Institute of Ethology, Department of Integrative Biology and Evolution, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria ; Department of Environmental Sciences, Zoology and Evolution, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Attila Hettyey
- Konrad Lorenz Institute of Ethology, Department of Integrative Biology and Evolution, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria ; Lendület Evolutionary Ecology Research Group, Plant Protection Institute, Centre for Agricultural Research, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Helmut Beissmann
- Konrad Lorenz Institute of Ethology, Department of Integrative Biology and Evolution, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| | - Dustin J Penn
- Konrad Lorenz Institute of Ethology, Department of Integrative Biology and Evolution, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
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15
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Martinez LA, Petrulis A. The bed nucleus of the stria terminalis is critical for sexual solicitation, but not for opposite-sex odor preference, in female Syrian hamsters. Horm Behav 2011; 60:651-9. [PMID: 21925504 PMCID: PMC3210388 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2011.08.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2011] [Revised: 08/17/2011] [Accepted: 08/24/2011] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
Successful reproduction in vertebrates depends critically upon a suite of precopulatory behaviors that occur prior to mating. In Syrian hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus), these behaviors include vaginal scent marking and preferential investigation of male odors. The neural regulation of vaginal marking and opposite-sex odor preference likely involves an interconnected set of steroid-sensitive nuclei that includes the medial amygdala (MA), the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST), and the medial preoptic area (MPOA). For example, lesions of MA eliminate opposite-sex odor preference and reduce overall levels of vaginal marking, whereas lesions of MPOA decrease vaginal marking in response to male odors. Although BNST is densely interconnected with both MA and MPOA, little is known about the role of BNST in female precopulatory behaviors. To address this question, females received either bilateral, excitotoxic lesions of BNST (BNST-X) or sham lesions (SHAM), and were tested for scent marking and for investigatory responses to male and female odors. Whereas SHAM females vaginal marked more to male odors than female odors on two days of the estrous cycle, BNST-X females marked at equivalent levels to both odors. This deficit is not due to alterations in social odor investigation, as both BNST-X and SHAM females investigated male odors more than female odors. Finally, BNST lesions did not generally disrupt the cyclic changes in reproductive behaviors that occur across the estrous cycle. Taken together, these results demonstrate that BNST is critical for the normal expression of solicitational behaviors by females in response to male odor stimuli.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis A Martinez
- Georgia State University, Neuroscience Institute, 100 Piedmont Ave SE, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA.
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16
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Abstract
Qualitative impairments in communication, such as delayed language and poor interactive communication skills, are fundamental to the diagnosis of autism. Investigations into social communication in adult BTBR T+tf/J (BTBR) mice are needed to determine whether this inbred strain incorporates phenotypes relevant to the second diagnostic symptom of autism, communication deficits, along with its strong behavioral phenotypes relevant to the first and third diagnostic symptoms, impairments in social interactions and high levels of repetitive behavior. The aim of the present study was to simultaneously measure female urine-elicited scent marking and ultrasonic vocalizations in adult male BTBR mice, in comparison with a standard control strain with high sociability, C57BL/6J (B6), for the assessment of a potential communication deficit in BTBR. Adult male BTBR mice displayed lower scent marking and minimal ultrasonic vocalization responses to female urine obtained from both B6 and BTBR females. Lower scent marking and ultrasonic vocalizations in a social setting by BTBR, as compared with B6, are consistent with the well-replicated social deficits in this inbred mouse strain. Our findings support the interpretation that BTBR incorporate communication deficits, and suggest that scent marking and ultrasonic vocalizations offer promising measures of interest in social cues that may be widely applicable to investigations of mouse models of autism.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Wöhr
- Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience, Intramural Research Program, National Institute of Mental Health, NIH, Porter Neuroscience Research Center, Bethesda, MD, USA.
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Sobrian SK, Holson RR. Social behavior of offspring following prenatal cocaine exposure in rodents: a comparison with prenatal alcohol. Front Psychiatry 2011; 2:66. [PMID: 22144967 PMCID: PMC3227113 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2011.00066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2011] [Accepted: 11/11/2011] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Clinical and experimental reports suggest that prenatal cocaine exposure (PCE) alters the offsprings' social interactions with caregivers and conspecifics. Children exposed to prenatal cocaine show deficits in caregiver attachment and play behavior. In animal models, a developmental pattern of effects that range from deficits in play and social interaction during adolescence, to aggressive reactions during competition in adulthood is seen. This review will focus primarily on the effects of PCE on social behaviors involving conspecifics in animal models. Social relationships are critical to the developing organism; maternally directed interactions are necessary for initial survival. Juvenile rats deprived of play behavior, one of the earliest forms of non-mother directed social behaviors in rodents, show deficits in learning tasks and sexual competence. Social behavior is inherently complex. Because the emergence of appropriate social skills involves the interplay between various conceptual and biological facets of behavior and social information, it may be a particularly sensitive measure of prenatal insult. The social behavior surveyed include social interactions, play behavior/fighting, scent marking, and aggressive behavior in the offspring, as well as aspects of maternal behavior. The goal is to determine if there is a consensus of results in the literature with respect to PCE and social behaviors, and to discuss discrepant findings in terms of exposure models, the paradigms, and dependent variables, as well as housing conditions, and the sex and age of the offspring at testing. As there is increasing evidence that deficits in social behavior may be sequelae of developmental exposure alcohol, we compare changes in social behaviors reported for prenatal alcohol with those reported for prenatal cocaine. Shortcomings in the both literatures are identified and addressed in an effort to improve the translational value of future experimentation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonya K Sobrian
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, Howard University Washington, DC, USA
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Petrulis A. Neural mechanisms of individual and sexual recognition in Syrian hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus). Behav Brain Res 2009; 200:260-7. [PMID: 19014975 PMCID: PMC2668739 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2008.10.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2008] [Revised: 10/20/2008] [Accepted: 10/22/2008] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Recognizing the individual and sexual identities of conspecifics is critical for adaptive social behavior and, in most mammals this information is communicated primarily by chemosensory cues. Due to its heavy reliance on odor cues, we have used the Syrian hamster as our model species for investigating the neural regulation of social recognition. Using lesion, electrophysiological and immunocytochemical techniques, separate neural pathways underlying recognition of individual odors and guidance of sex-typical responses to opposite-sex odors have been identified in both male and female hamsters. Specifically, we have found that recognition of individual odor identity requires olfactory bulb connections to entorhinal cortex (ENT) rather than other chemoreceptive brain regions. This kind of social memory does not appear to require the hippocampus and may, instead, depend on ENT connections with piriform cortex. In contrast, sexual recognition, through either differential investigation or scent marking toward opposite-sex odors, depends on both olfactory and vomeronasal system input to the corticomedial amygdala. Preference for investigating opposite-sex odors requires primarily olfactory input to the medial amygdala (ME) whereas appropriately targeted scent marking responses require vomeronasal input to ME as well as to other structures. Within the ME, the anterior section (MEa) appears important for evaluating or classifying social odors whereas the posterodorsal region (MEpd) may be more involved in generating approach to social odors. Evidence is presented that analysis of social odors may initially be done in MEa and then communicated to MEpd, perhaps through micro-circuits that separately process male and female odors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aras Petrulis
- Neuroscience Institute, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30302-5030, USA.
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Abstract
There is limited information on the reproductive behaviour of the Maned wolf Chrysocyon brachyurus. Although it is a monogamous species, little is known about the ♂'s role in the rearing of pups. In 1994 a comparative study of the behaviour of two ♀♀ with new‐born pups was carried out at Belo Horizonte Zoo to try to establish the ♂'s role in rearing: one ♀ was housed alone with her pups throughout the observation period; the other ♂ was housed with the ♀ and pups for the first month and alone with the pups for the second month of observation. The applied methodology for behaviour evaluation was instantaneous sampling (scan). The behaviour of each adult was recorded at one‐minute intervals. Location in the enclosure and spatial proximity were also recorded. The results suggest that Maned wolves are inactive for large parts of the day and that they prefer secluded areas within an enclosure. The results also suggest that only the ♂ is directly involved in rearing the offspring and that ♀ participation is limited to protection only. The time that the ♂ stays with the pups is at a maximum on the days immediately following birth, but this time decreases considerably as the pups grow. At around day 50, when lactation has ceased, contact between the ♂ and pups is minimal and the pups have their own resting places within the enclosure. These resting places, inside the burrows or thick vegetation, are rarely shared with others.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bernadette Ventura Veado
- Departmento de Zoologia, Institute de Ciências Biologicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais and Fundaç˜o Zoo-Botânica de Belo Horizonte, Av. Otácilio Negrsão de Lima, 8000 Pampulha, CEP 31365-450 Belo Horizonte, Brasil
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