Olfactory communication and counter-marking in brown brocket deer Mazama gouazoubira

Abstract

Scent marking by defecation and urination in numerous small latrines may be related to resource defence in brown brocket deer (Mazama gouazoubira). Both males and females seem to be territorial, and both contribute to latrines where their ranges overlap. Latrines could thus potentially function as centres of information exchange and intrasexual competition. Counter-marking occurs when animals respond to invaders' marks with a greater number of marks. The objectives of this experimental study were to determine whether brown brocket deer distinguish dung of presumed invaders from their own and whether they counter-mark such faecal deposits. Two samples of dung (from unknown males or females and the experimental animal) were introduced near the latrines of 21 captive deer (13 males and eight females), and we observed their responses, including investigative (sniffing) and marking (urination and defecation) behaviours. Males investigated the introduced dung and their own latrine significantly more when the dung was from an unknown male than when it was their own. Females investigated unknown female dung significantly more than their own. Males countermarked the introduced dung and their latrine significantly more when the dung was from an unknown male than when it was their own. Males marked with a shorter latency and at a greater frequency than females. Our data indicated that males counter-mark most intensively dung from male 'intruders' which may be related to intrasexual competition and resource defence. Females showed a non-significant tendency to counter-mark same sex intruders.

Maintenance of familiarity and social bonding via communal latrine use in a solitary primate (Lepilemur leucopus)

“…In contrast, river otters ( Lontra canadensis ) investigate foreign scat more than local one when added to latrines (Oldham and Black 2009 ). Brown brocket deer ( Mazama gouazoubira ) investigate introduced dung from unknown individuals of the same sex significantly more than their own dung, and males counter-mark introduced dung with a greater frequency than females (Black-Decima and Santana 2011 ). Badgers ( Meles meles ) respond more intensely towards foreign feces, and the response is greatest during the breeding season (Palphramand and White 2007 ).…”

“…Scent marks may function as self-advertisement and simply signal an individual’s presence and identity to mates, family members, neighbors, and/or intruders (Eisenberg and Kleiman 1972 ; Peters and Mech 1975 ; Wolff et al 2002 ), and latrines may serve as information exchange centers of individual-specific information (Darden et al 2008 ; Black-Decima and Santana 2011 ). Latrines are maintained by all individuals of a social unit in L. leucopus .…”

“…Similarly, male brown brocket deer defecate/urinate more often after detecting dung from unknown individuals near one of their latrines. By re-marking their latrine, residents are thought to affirm their dominant or resident status (Black-Decima and Santana 2011 ).…”

“…The repeated use of specific locations for defecation/urination can result in an accumulation of feces and other excretory products at so-called latrine sites, and this behavior can be considered a special form of scent marking in cases where it serves a communicatory function (Wronski et al 2013 ). Latrines have been described for several ungulates (e.g., Ourebia : Brashares and Arcese 1999 ; Tragelaphus : Apio et al 2006 ; Mazama : Black-Decima and Santana 2011 ; Gazella : Wronski et al 2013 ), carnivores (e.g., Suricata : Jordan et al 2007 ; Vulpes : Darden et al 2008 ; Meles : Kilshaw et al 2009 ; Hyaena : Hulsman et al 2010 ), primates (e.g., Lepilemur : Charles-Dominique and Hladik 1971 ; Cheirogaleus : Schilling 1980a ; Hapalemur : Irwin et al 2004 ), and a few other mammalian taxa (e.g., Arvicola : Woodroffe and Lawton 1990 ; Oryctolagus : Sneddon 1991 ). Feces are either deposited alone (e.g., Bassariscus astutus : Barja and List 2006 ; Ourebia ourebi : Brashares and Arcese 1999 ) or together with urine and/or secretions of specialized glands at latrine sites (e.g., Meles meles : Roper et al 1986 ; Mazama gouazoubira : Black-Decima and Santana 2011 ).…”

Chemical communication in free-ranging gray brocket deer (Mazama gouazoubira)

“…For Mazama gouazoubira G. Fischer [von Waldheim], 1814 (gray brocket), some of these behaviors have been observed under captive conditions (BLACK-DECIMA; SANTANA, 2011;ROLA et al, 2012), with a single record from the wild (PINDER, 1992). Countermarking and latrine formation and use in ungulates have been studied in relatively few species (BLACK-DECIMA; SANTANA, 2011), for example, in asses (MOEHLMAN, 1985), zebras (KIMURA, 2000), southern pudus (MACNAMARA; ELDRIDGE, 1987) and red brockets (RIVERO et al, 2004).…”