Reproductive status influences odor preferences of the meadow vole, Microtus pennsylvanicus, in winter day lengths

Authors

M. R. Gorman, University of California, BerkeleyFollow
M. H. Ferkin, University of California, BerkeleyFollow
R. J. Nelson, University of California, Berkeley
I. Zucker, University of California, BerkeleyFollow

Abstract

Voles that did not respond to short days with reproductive inhibition were reproductively mature and are termed nonresponders, while voles that did respond to short days with reproductive inhibition were reproductively immature and are termed responders. Nonresponder females preferred odors of nonresponder males over those of nonresponder females and nonresponder female over responder female odors. Nonresponder males preferred nonresponder over responder female odors. The mutual attraction between male-female and female-female nonresponders may facilitate winter breeding and female-female dyad formation for communal rearing of young, respectively. Responder females preferred odors of female responders over those of male responders and responder over nonresponder male odors. Differences in odor communication between responder and nonresponder voles are attributable only in part to differences in gonadal hormone secretion. -from Authors

Publication Title

Canadian Journal of Zoology

Recommended Citation

Gorman, M., Ferkin, M., Nelson, R., & Zucker, I. (1993). Reproductive status influences odor preferences of the meadow vole, Microtus pennsylvanicus, in winter day lengths. Canadian Journal of Zoology, 71 (9), 1748-1754. https://doi.org/10.1139/z93-248