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PLoS One

Title:		A comparison of scent marking between a monogamous and promiscuous species of peromyscus: pair bonded males do not advertise to novel females
Author(s):		Becker EA; Petruno S; Marler CA;
Address:		"Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America. eflorek@wisc.edu"
Journal Title:		PLoS One
Year:		2012
Volume:		20120229
Issue:		2
Page Number:		e32002 -
DOI:		10.1371/journal.pone.0032002
ISSN/ISBN:		1932-6203 (Electronic) 1932-6203 (Linking)
Abstract:		"Scent marking can provide behavioral and physiological information including territory ownership and mate advertisement. It is unknown how mating status and pair cohabitation influence marking by males from different social systems. We compared the highly territorial and monogamous California mouse (Peromyscus californicus) to the less territorial and promiscuous white-footed mouse (P. leucopus). Single and mated males of both species were assigned to one of the following arenas lined with filter paper: control (unscented arena), male scented (previously scent-marked by a male conspecific), or females present (containing females in small cages). As expected, the territorial P. californicus scent marked and overmarked an unfamiliar male conspecific's scent marks more frequently than P. leucopus. Species differences in responses to novel females were also found based on mating status. The presence of unfamiliar females failed to induce changes in scent marking in pair bonded P. californicus even though virgin males increased marking behavior. Pair bonding appears to reduce male advertisement for novel females. This is in contrast to P. leucopus males that continue to advertise regardless of mating status. Our data suggest that communication through scent-marking can diverge significantly between species based on mating system and that there are physiological mechanisms that can inhibit responsiveness of males to female cues"
Keywords:		"Animal Communication Animals Behavior, Animal/physiology Female Male Odorants Peromyscus/*physiology Pheromones/*physiology Scent Glands/*physiology Sexual Behavior, Animal/*physiology Species Specificity Territoriality;"
Notes:		"MedlineBecker, Elizabeth A Petruno, Sarah Marler, Catherine A eng Comparative Study Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S. 2012/03/07 PLoS One. 2012; 7(2):e32002. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0032002. Epub 2012 Feb 29"