Odor preference and social behavior in meadow voles, <i>Microtus pennsylvanicus</i>: seasonal differences

Ferkin, Michael H.; Seamon, Joshua O.

doi:10.1139/z87-445

Cited by 101 publications

(90 citation statements)

References 30 publications

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“…In addition, it has been suggested by Ylönen et al (1995) that females with their better "social skills" form the core of winter aggregations and that this could play an important role in the overwintering success of the whole overwintering population. Based on the experiment on odor preference, also Ferkin & Seamon (1987) suggested that overwintering groups of meadow voles (Microtus pennsyvanicus) might be female biased, as non-breeding meadow vole females showed preference for the odor of female conspecifics, whereas males showed no preference and displayed more antagonistic acts against other males, than females against female conspecifics. Thus, male-male aggressive interactions may preclude males from joining the same winter aggregation.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sex‐specific variation in the onset of reproduction and reproductive trade‐offs in a boreal small mammal

Sipari

Haapakoski

Klemme

et al. 2014

Ecology

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The global climate change is predicted to cause notable alterations in winter conditions in northern areas. This raises many questions about its possible consequences on northern species and ecosystems. In many areas the time period with an intact snow cover is about to get shorter or even vanish altogether. As the overwintering success of many small mammals is strongly dependent on the protection provided by the snow cover against severe weather conditions and predation, it is obvious that these kinds of environmental alterations should affect the overwintering physiology and behavior, as well as the initiation of breeding after winter. In this thesis I have studied the winter ecology of a small boreal rodent species, the bank vole (Myodes glareolus), and the possible consequences of climate change on the physiology, behavior and onset of reproduction in this species. I conducted four experiments under laboratory (II-IV) and semi-natural conditions (I, III). One of my experiments was purely methodological (IV), providing me with validated and accurate endocrinological study methods, and thereby enabling my other experiments. I found that the sex-ratio of the overwintering population affects the physiology and behavior of bank voles and thus, leads to divergent overwintering strategies (I). I was also able to show that the changing winter conditions related to climate change alter the circadian activity pattern and possibly even the anti-predator behavior of this species (II). Further, my studies showed contrasting sex differences in the response to environmental cues regulating the onset of reproduction after winter (III). In case of rapid environmental changes, this could lead to a reproductive mismatch between the sexes and thus, strongly affect fitness. The results of my thesis provide new information about the overwintering mechanisms of a winter-active small boreal rodent, and may help us to predict some of the possible consequences of climate change on northern boreal ecosystems.Keywords: Climate change; overwintering; onset of reproduction; physiology; behavior, predation risk. Science, P.O. Box 35, Saana Sipari, University of Jyväskylä, Department of Biological and Environmental LIST OF ORIGINAL PUBLICATIONSThe thesis is based on the following original papers, which will be referred to in the text by their Roman numerals I-IV. ISipari, S., Haapakoski, M., Klemme, I., Palme, R., Sundell, J., Ylönen, H. Population sex-ratio affecting behavior and physiology of overwintering bank voles (Myodes glareolus). Manuscript. Writing*: I was the main writer in all articles (I-IV), but all authors named in the respective studies contributed to the writing with several comments and notations. INTRODUCTIONSeasonality plays an essential role in the life histories of many species, affecting their physiology, behavior, reproduction and survival. The strongest seasonality occurs in high latitude areas, like the Arctic and boreal regions, where spring, summer, autumn and winter all represent distinct periods in t...

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sex‐specific variation in the onset of reproduction and reproductive trade‐offs in a boreal small mammal

Sipari

Haapakoski

Klemme

et al. 2014

Ecology

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“…Variations in day length in laboratory studies trigger at least some of the changes in behavior observed seasonally in the field (Ferkin and Seamon, 1987). In long day lengths (LDs), female meadow voles prefer the odors of males over those of females, consistent with summer breeding.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Day length and estradiol affect same-sex affiliative behavior in the female meadow vole

Beery

Loo

Zucker

2008

Hormones and Behavior

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Non-sexual social bonding between adult mammals remains poorly understood, despite its importance in many species. Female meadow voles are territorial and nest alone in long summer day lengths when circulating estradiol concentrations are high, but cohabit in groups in short winter photoperiods when estradiol secretion is low. The influence of day length and estradiol on same-sex huddling behavior was assessed in adult female pairs housed together in long day lengths (LDs) or short day lengths (SDs) from weaning. The behavior of intact, ovariectomized, and estradiol-treated ovariectomized females from each photoperiod was assessed during 3 hour partner preference tests. Intact SD voles, unlike intact LD voles, spent the majority of the test in proximity to their cage mates. Estradiol treatment of SD voles significantly reduced time spent huddling with the partner. Neither ovariectomy nor estradiol treatment significantly affected the amount of time LD females spent in contact with their partners. Low estradiol availability is therefore a necessary but not sufficient condition for maintenance of high levels of huddling. These results establish that ovarian hormones interact with photoperiod to affect same-sex social behavior.

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“…Idris and Prakash 1986, Ferkin and Seamon 1987, Heske 1987. The influence of odours left in traps on successive trappings of rodents was also analyzed.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Use of odour bait to catch bank voles

Andrzejewski¹,

Owadowska²

1994

Acta Theriol.

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Odor preference and social behavior in meadow voles, Microtus pennsylvanicus: seasonal differences

Cited by 101 publications

References 30 publications

Sex‐specific variation in the onset of reproduction and reproductive trade‐offs in a boreal small mammal

Sex‐specific variation in the onset of reproduction and reproductive trade‐offs in a boreal small mammal

Day length and estradiol affect same-sex affiliative behavior in the female meadow vole

Use of odour bait to catch bank voles

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