Variation in aggressive behavior and anatomo-physiological correlates generated by crowding without physical contact in the house mouse

Abstract

Behavioral, physiological (i.e., endocrine), and anatomical consequences of crowding in mice were studied in a situation where animals were in auditory, visual, olfactory, and tactile contact but restrained from full physical interactions, to prevent overt aggression. Males that cohabited with females undisturbed by neighboring conspecifics showed greater propensity to attack same‐sex intruders and had higher plasma testosterone levels than did their “crowded” counterparts, that is, males cohabiting with females and housed adjacent to other male/female pairs. In this respect, the latter animals resembled submissive males. However, a significant increase in weight of androgen‐dependent target organs (i.e., seminal vesicles and preputial glands) was found in crowded males. These data indicate that despite the observed inhibition of social aggression these males are not physiologically comparable (homologous) to male mice that experienced defeat and the stress of submission during fighting. The intriguing possibility that different conversion pathway of testosterone are accelerated, as a result of social communication, in males living in these two environments and the behavioral implications of these possibilities are discussed. Finally, the parental behavior of crowded animals, although not freely interacting with each other, was disrupted, causing a marked decrease in reproductive success. In this situation a high incidence of infanticide of their offspring by both parents was observed, whereas this behavior was virtually absent in non‐crowded male/female pairs.

Olfactory contacts mediate plasticity in male aggression with variable male density

“…We find this unlikely for 2 reasons. Firstly, laboratory studies have previously demonstrated that male mice exposed to olfactory, but not physical, contact with other males were less aggressive than those that did not have olfactory contact with other males, yet they did not display other physiological characteristics of subordination (Parmigiani et al 1989). Secondly, and more tellingly, the mice exposed to conspecific scents in our experiment did not behave as subordinates, with levels of aggression towards dominant opponents not lower in mice exposed to a greater number of scents, and rates of investigation of opponents' scent no different across scent diversity treatments.…”

Olfactory contacts mediate plasticity in male aggression with variable male density

“…We find this unlikely for 2 reasons. Firstly, laboratory studies have previously demonstrated that male mice exposed to olfactory, but not physical, contact with other males were less aggressive than those that did not have olfactory contact with other males, yet they did not display other physiological characteristics of subordination (Parmigiani et al 1989). Secondly, and more tellingly, the mice exposed to conspecific scents in our experiment did not behave as subordinates, with levels of aggression towards dominant opponents not lower in mice exposed to a greater number of scents, and rates of investigation of opponents' scent no different across scent diversity treatments.…”

Effects of genotype and intrauterine location on the propensity for infanticide by primarous female mice

“……”

AGONISTIC BEHAVIOR IN HARBOR SEALS (PHOCA VITULINA) IN RELATION TO THE AVAILABILITY OF HAUL‐OUT SPACE

“…Thus, the seals at Elk Head appar- ently adjusted their behavior and responded with increased aggression t o the increase i n density. This is not surprising, as increases i n aggressive interactions due to crowding have been well documented for a number of smaller mammals (Parmigiani et al 1989, Ferron 1993, Brown and Grunberg 1995.…”

Olfactory contacts mediate plasticity in male aggression with variable male density

“…We find this unlikely for 2 reasons. Firstly, laboratory studies have previously demonstrated that male mice exposed to olfactory, but not physical, contact with other males were less aggressive than those that did not have olfactory contact with other males, yet they did not display other physiological characteristics of subordination (Parmigiani et al 1989). Secondly, and more tellingly, the mice exposed to conspecific scents in our experiment did not behave as subordinates, with levels of aggression towards dominant opponents not lower in mice exposed to a greater number of scents, and rates of investigation of opponents' scent no different across scent diversity treatments.…”

Effects of genotype and intrauterine location on the propensity for infanticide by primarous female mice

“……”

AGONISTIC BEHAVIOR IN HARBOR SEALS (PHOCA VITULINA) IN RELATION TO THE AVAILABILITY OF HAUL‐OUT SPACE

“…Thus, the seals at Elk Head appar- ently adjusted their behavior and responded with increased aggression t o the increase i n density. This is not surprising, as increases i n aggressive interactions due to crowding have been well documented for a number of smaller mammals (Parmigiani et al 1989, Ferron 1993, Brown and Grunberg 1995.…”

Olfactory contacts mediate plasticity in male aggression with variable male density

“…We find this unlikely for 2 reasons. Firstly, laboratory studies have previously demonstrated that male mice exposed to olfactory, but not physical, contact with other males were less aggressive than those that did not have olfactory contact with other males, yet they did not display other physiological characteristics of subordination (Parmigiani et al 1989). Secondly, and more tellingly, the mice exposed to conspecific scents in our experiment did not behave as subordinates, with levels of aggression towards dominant opponents not lower in mice exposed to a greater number of scents, and rates of investigation of opponents' scent no different across scent diversity treatments.…”

Effects of genotype and intrauterine location on the propensity for infanticide by primarous female mice

“……”

AGONISTIC BEHAVIOR IN HARBOR SEALS (PHOCA VITULINA) IN RELATION TO THE AVAILABILITY OF HAUL‐OUT SPACE

“…Thus, the seals at Elk Head appar- ently adjusted their behavior and responded with increased aggression t o the increase i n density. This is not surprising, as increases i n aggressive interactions due to crowding have been well documented for a number of smaller mammals (Parmigiani et al 1989, Ferron 1993, Brown and Grunberg 1995.…”