Seasonal differences in self-grooming in meadow voles, Microtus pennsylvanicus |
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Authors: | Stuart T Leonard Michael H Ferkin |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Biology, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN 38152, USA |
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Abstract: | We determined whether seasonal differences exist in the amount of time meadow voles, Microtus pennsylvanicus, self-groom when they encounter the scents of conspecifics. To do so, we used voles that were born and reared under long
photoperiod (LP) and short photoperiod (SP). LP voles represent those found in free-living populations during the spring and
summer breeding season, whereas SP voles characterize those found in free-living populations during the fall and winter nonbreeding
season. Experiment 1 showed that LP male and female voles self-groomed more in response to odors of LP opposite-sex conspecifics
as compared to those of other LP and SP conspecifics, suggesting that they may be self-grooming to signal sexual interest
or excitement to potential mates. Experiment 2 demonstrated that SP males self-groomed more in response to scents of LP female
voles and those of SP males as compared to scents of LP males and SP females, whereas SP females spent similar amounts of
time self-grooming in response to scents of LP males, LP females, SP females, and SP males. These seasonal differences in
self-grooming may reflect differences in the messages produced by groomers when they broadcast their odors as well as differences
in the meaning of such odors to opposite-sex conspecifics. Alternatively, these data may be associated with seasonal differences
in sexual motivation of the groomers when exposed to scents of particular conspecifics. |
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Keywords: | Self-grooming Seasonality Voles Odor communication |
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