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BMC Biol

Title:		Male urine signals social rank in the Mozambique tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus)
Author(s):		Barata EN; Hubbard PC; Almeida OG; Miranda A; Canario AV;
Address:		"CCMAR-CIMAR Laboratorio Associado, Universidade do Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal. ebarata@ualg.pt"
Journal Title:		BMC Biol
Year:		2007
Volume:		20071212
Issue:
Page Number:		54 -
DOI:		10.1186/1741-7007-5-54
ISSN/ISBN:		1741-7007 (Electronic) 1741-7007 (Linking)
Abstract:		"BACKGROUND: The urine of freshwater fish species investigated so far acts as a vehicle for reproductive pheromones affecting the behaviour and physiology of the opposite sex. However, the role of urinary pheromones in intra-sexual competition has received less attention. This is particularly relevant in lek-breeding species, such as the Mozambique tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus), where males establish dominance hierarchies and there is the possibility for chemical communication in the modulation of aggression among males. To investigate whether males use urine during aggressive interactions, we measured urination frequency of dye-injected males during paired interactions between size-matched males. Furthermore, we assessed urinary volume stored in the bladder of males in a stable social hierarchy and the olfactory potency of their urine by recording of the electro-olfactogram. RESULTS: Males released urine in pulses of short duration (about one second) and markedly increased urination frequency during aggressive behaviour, but did not release urine whilst submissive. In the stable hierarchy, subordinate males stored less urine than males of higher social rank; the olfactory potency of the urine was positively correlated with the rank of the male donor. CONCLUSION: Dominant males store urine and use it as a vehicle for odorants actively released during aggressive disputes. The olfactory potency of the urine is positively correlated with the social status of the male. We suggest that males actively advertise their dominant status through urinary odorants which may act as a 'dominance' pheromone to modulate aggression in rivals, thereby contributing to social stability within the lek"
Keywords:		Animals Female Male Sex Attractants/*urine Smell *Social Dominance Tilapia/*physiology/*urine Urination;
Notes:		"MedlineBarata, Eduardo N Hubbard, Peter C Almeida, Olinda G Miranda, Antonio Canario, Adelino Vm eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't England 2007/12/14 BMC Biol. 2007 Dec 12; 5:54. doi: 10.1186/1741-7007-5-54"