Self-grooming induced by sexual chemical signals in male root voles (Microtus oeconomus Pallas)

NWIPB OpenIR

	Self-grooming induced by sexual chemical signals in male root voles (Microtus oeconomus Pallas)
	Yu, Honghao ; Yue, Pengpeng ; Sun, Ping ; Zhao, Xinquan
	2010-03-01
发表期刊	BEHAVIOURAL PROCESSES ; Yu, HH; Yue, PP; Sun, P; Zhao, XQ.Self-grooming induced by sexual chemical signals in male root voles (Microtus oeconomus Pallas),BEHAVIOURAL PROCESSES,2010,83(3):292-298
摘要	Sniffing is one-way animals collect chemical signals, and many males self-groom when they encounter the odor of opposite-sex conspecifics. We tested the hypothesis that sexual chemical signals from females can induce self-grooming behavior in male root voles (Microtus oeconomus Pallas). Specifically, we investigated the sniffing pattern of male root voles in response to odors from the head, trunk, and tail areas of lactating and non-lactating females. The self-grooming behavior of males in response to female individual odorant stimuli was documented, and the relationship between self-grooming and sniffing of odors from the head, trunk, and tails areas were analyzed. Sniffing pattern results showed that males are most interested in odors from the head area, and more interested in odors from the tail as compared to the trunk area. Males displayed different sniffing and self-grooming behaviors when they were exposed to odors from lactating females as compared to non-lactating females. Males also spent more time sniffing and engaged in more sniffing behaviors in response to odors from the lactating females' tail area as compared to the same odors from non-lactating females. Similarly, males spent more time self-grooming and engaged in more self-grooming behaviors in the presence of individual odors from lactating females as compared to individual odors from non-lactating females. Partial correlation analyses revealed that the frequency of self-grooming was significantly correlated with the frequency of tail area sniffs. Results from this experiment suggest that sexual attractiveness of lactating females is stronger than that of non-lactating females. Furthermore, the partial correlation analysis demonstrated that self-grooming in males is induced by odors from the tail area of females. Collectively, these results support the hypothesis that sexual chemical signals from females can induce self-grooming behavior in male root voles. Self-grooming may also reflect the groomer's sexual motivation and facilitate sexual interactions. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.; Sniffing is one-way animals collect chemical signals, and many males self-groom when they encounter the odor of opposite-sex conspecifics. We tested the hypothesis that sexual chemical signals from females can induce self-grooming behavior in male root voles (Microtus oeconomus Pallas). Specifically, we investigated the sniffing pattern of male root voles in response to odors from the head, trunk, and tail areas of lactating and non-lactating females. The self-grooming behavior of males in response to female individual odorant stimuli was documented, and the relationship between self-grooming and sniffing of odors from the head, trunk, and tails areas were analyzed. Sniffing pattern results showed that males are most interested in odors from the head area, and more interested in odors from the tail as compared to the trunk area. Males displayed different sniffing and self-grooming behaviors when they were exposed to odors from lactating females as compared to non-lactating females. Males also spent more time sniffing and engaged in more sniffing behaviors in response to odors from the lactating females' tail area as compared to the same odors from non-lactating females. Similarly, males spent more time self-grooming and engaged in more self-grooming behaviors in the presence of individual odors from lactating females as compared to individual odors from non-lactating females. Partial correlation analyses revealed that the frequency of self-grooming was significantly correlated with the frequency of tail area sniffs. Results from this experiment suggest that sexual attractiveness of lactating females is stronger than that of non-lactating females. Furthermore, the partial correlation analysis demonstrated that self-grooming in males is induced by odors from the tail area of females. Collectively, these results support the hypothesis that sexual chemical signals from females can induce self-grooming behavior in male root voles. Self-grooming may also reflect the groomer's sexual motivation and facilitate sexual interactions. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
文献类型	期刊论文
条目标识符	http://210.75.249.4/handle/363003/46006
专题	中国科学院西北高原生物研究所
推荐引用方式 GB/T 7714	Yu, Honghao,Yue, Pengpeng,Sun, Ping,et al. Self-grooming induced by sexual chemical signals in male root voles (Microtus oeconomus Pallas)[J]. BEHAVIOURAL PROCESSES, Yu, HH; Yue, PP; Sun, P; Zhao, XQ.Self-grooming induced by sexual chemical signals in male root voles (Microtus oeconomus Pallas),BEHAVIOURAL PROCESSES,2010,83(3):292-298,2010.
APA	Yu, Honghao,Yue, Pengpeng,Sun, Ping,&Zhao, Xinquan.(2010).Self-grooming induced by sexual chemical signals in male root voles (Microtus oeconomus Pallas).BEHAVIOURAL PROCESSES.
MLA	Yu, Honghao,et al."Self-grooming induced by sexual chemical signals in male root voles (Microtus oeconomus Pallas)".BEHAVIOURAL PROCESSES (2010).