Social status, activity and preputial glands of wild and domestic house mice

Barnett, S. A.; Dickson, R. G.; Warth, Kathy G.

doi:10.1111/j.1096-3642.1980.tb00857.x

Cited by 18 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 21 publications

(9 reference statements)

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“…In contrast, relatively larger males were predisposed to display more aggressive behaviours and less defensive actions. Although the correlation between the type of agonistic response displayed and differences in body size was marginally significant, the tendency observed was consistent with the general observation that body weight is an important element in defining competitive relationships among small mammals (Barnett et al. 1980; Hurst et al.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 87%

Relative Dominance Affects Use of Scent‐Marked Areas in Male Snow Voles Chionomys nivalis

2002

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We conducted a laboratory experiment to examine whether dominance status affects the use of locations occupied (i.e. scent‐marked) by same‐sex conspecifics among wild‐caught snow vole males (Chionomys nivalis). Given that the costs of invading scent‐marked areas should partially depend on the intruder's competitive ability, we hypothesised that, once a dominance relationship has been established with the owner of marks, the use of these areas by males would vary differently between dominant and subordinate individuals. Before any previous experience with the owner, scented substrates and nests were highly attractive to all males, indicating a general preference for recently occupied areas. However, after relative social status was established through direct interaction the subsequent response of males was altered differently, subordinate individuals reducing the use of marked areas to a much greater extent than dominants. Competitive relationships between male C. nivalis were found to be influenced by differences in body weight, larger males tending to display a more dominant pattern of behaviour. Our results reveal that male C. nivalis may require some direct experience with potential opponents to modulate their response towards occupied locations. Additionally, we suggest that the ability of males to conditionally respond to social signals from particular competing conspecifics might be used to lower the costs of prospective agonistic interactions.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 87%

Relative Dominance Affects Use of Scent‐Marked Areas in Male Snow Voles Chionomys nivalis

2002

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“…We used matched-pair t-tests and parametric ANOVAs to examine the effects of status and sex on the derived PCA scores, all of which closely approximated normality, and Pearson correlations and matched-pair t-tests to examine the effect of size difference within dyads. All significance tests were two-tailed, since the two hypotheses often had opposing predictions, except for those concerning the effects of relative size; these tested the prediction that the heavier mouse would be more aggressive and less defensive than its lighter opponent, since the heavier animal usually dominates when M. domesticus (Barnett et al 1980;van Zegeren 1980) and many other rodent species (e.g. Grant 1970) meet on neutral ground.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Social organization in the aboriginal house mouse,Mus spretus Lataste: behavioural mechanisms underlying the spatial dispersion of competitors

et al. 1996

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Abstract. Because rodents behave cryptically and often have large home ranges, the role of social defence in determining their spatial dispersion in grassland remains an enigma. Individual dispersion and access to resources could be determined mainly by the aggressive exclusion of intruders from large territories by residents, or by the scattered distribution of resources and avoidance of dominant competitors occupying preferred sites. The ways in which predictions from these two hypotheses correspond to intra-sexual competitive behaviour within unfamiliar dyads of the mouse Mus spretus, recently captured from two grassland populations, were examined. A series of tests in enclosures examined (1) exploration by intruders given a choice between a resident's soiled sites versus clean sites, or between resident-soiled sites versus sites bearing their own odour, in the absence of the resident; (2) the response of an intruder on meeting either the resident or another mouse, in an adjacent clean tunnel; and (3) the response of a resident to an intruder compared with mice meeting in a clean enclosure. In both sexes, dyads quickly established dominance relationships through brief attacks and chases, and static defensive postures, rather than persistent pursuit and flight. Intruders were strongly attracted to a resident's nest and subsequently were more aggressive towards the resident than towards an opponent from an unfamiliar enclosure. There was less differentiation in competitive behaviour and more mutual fighting between residents and intruders than between mice in clean enclosures, with relative body weight being the most important factor determining competitive behaviour. The results were thus more consistent with competition for dominance over suitable sites than investment in fierce aggression to drive competitors away.

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“…Wild house mice differ in growth, reproductive physiology, behaviour and others ways from the domestic varieties (e.g. Barnett, Dickson & Warth, 1980;Barnett & Munro, 1971;Barnett & Neil, 1972;Bellamy et al, 1973;Bronson, 1984;Plomin & Manosevitz, 1974;Wolfe & Barnett, 1977). Findings on wild types are more likely to have some bearing on what happens in free populations.…”

Section: Mb'i'hodologymentioning

confidence: 99%

Wild Mice in the Cold: Some Findings on Adaptation

Barnett

Dickson

1989

Biological Reviews

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The house mouse, Mus domesticus, can thrive in natural environments much below its optimum temperature. Thermogenesis is then above that at more usual temperatures. In addition, body weight, and the weights of brown adipose tissue and the kidneys, may be higher than usual. In free populations of house mice cold lowers fertility and may prevent breeding. Other possible limiting factors on breeding are food supply, shelter for nesting and social interactions. In captivity, wild-type house mice exposed to severe cold (around 0 degrees C) at first adapt ontogenetically by shivering and reduced activity. But raised thermogenesis is soon achieved without shivering; nest-building improves; and readiness to explore may be enhanced. Endocrine changes probably include, at least initially, a rise in adrenal cortical activity and in catecholamine secretion. Some females become barren, but many remain fertile. The maturity of fertile females is, however, delayed and intervals between births are lengthened; nestling mortality rises. A limiting factor during lactation may be the capacity of the gut. Similar adaptive changes are observed during winter in some species of small mammals that do not hibernate. But neither the house mouse nor other species present a single, universal pattern of cold-adaptation. Wild-type mice bred for about 10 generations in a warm laboratory environment (20-23 degrees C) change little over generations. In cold they become progressively heavier and fatter at all ages; they mature earlier, and nestling mortality declines. The milk of such 'Eskimo' females is more concentrated than that of controls. If 'Eskimo' mice are returned to a warm environment, they are more fertile, and rear heavier young, than controls that remained in the warm. Despite the heavier young, litter size is not reduced: it may be increased, probably as a result of a higher ovulation rate. Parental effects have been analyzed by cross-fostering and hybridizing. Survival, growth and fertility are all favourably influenced by the intra-uterine and nest environments provided by 'Eskimo' females. 'Eskimo' males are also better fathers. Hence after ten generations the phenotype of cold-adapted house mice shows the combined effects of (a) an ontogenetic response to cold, (b) a superior parental environment and (c) a change genotype. The secular changes in the cold that lead to this phenotype give the appearance of evolution in miniature; but it is equally possible that they represent a genetical versatility that allows rapid, reversible shifts in response to environmental demands.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

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Social status, activity and preputial glands of wild and domestic house mice

Cited by 18 publications

References 21 publications

Relative Dominance Affects Use of Scent‐Marked Areas in Male Snow Voles Chionomys nivalis

Relative Dominance Affects Use of Scent‐Marked Areas in Male Snow Voles Chionomys nivalis

Social organization in the aboriginal house mouse,Mus spretus Lataste: behavioural mechanisms underlying the spatial dispersion of competitors

Wild Mice in the Cold: Some Findings on Adaptation

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