Abstract
Newborn wild house mice (Mus musculus) were fostered upon maternal conspecifics, prairie deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus bairdi) or laboratory rats (Rattus norvegicus). Male subjects were weaned into individual cages, in which they remained until testing commenced. At 35 days of age, subjects were given a four-choice test in which they had the opportunity to investigate tunnels scented with clean wood chips or with chips soiled by an adult male conspecific, deer mouse or rat. Compared to theMus-nursed andPeromyscus-nursed mice,Rattus-nursed mice were more active during the test and less reluctant to investigate theRattus-scented tunnel. These results were replicated in a two-choice test (Mus- vs.Rattus-scented tunnels) that included a group of mice fostered onto conspecifics, but withRattus scents present in the maternity cage throughout the nursing period. Early exposure to the scent ofRattus had no significant effects on the responses ofMus-nursed mice to the scent ofRattus.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Brown, R. E. (1985). The rodents: II. Suborder Myomorpha. In R. E. Brown & D. W. Macdonald (Eds.),Social odours in mammals (Vol. 1, pp. 345–457). Oxford: Clarendon Press.
Carter, R. L, &Brand, L. R. (1986). Species recognition in wild-caught, laboratory-reared and cross-fosteredPeromyscus califomicus andPeromyscus eremicus (Rodentia, Cricetidae).Animal Behavior,34, 998–1066.
Denenberg, V. H., Hudgens, G. A., &Zarrow, M. X. (1964). Mice reared with rats: Modification of behavior by early experience with another species.Science,143, 380–381.
Denenberg, V. H., Paschke, R., Zarrow, M. X., &Rosenberg, K. M. (1969). Mice reared with rats: Elimination of odors, vision, and audition as significant stimulus sources.Developmental Psychobiology,2, 26–28.
Denenberg, V. H., Rosenberg, K. M., Paschke, R., Hess, J. L., Zarrow, M. X., &Levine, S. (1968). Plasma corticosterone levels as a function of cross-species fostering and species differences.Endocrinology,83, 900–902.
D’Udine, B., &Alleva, E. (1983). Early experience and sexual preferences in rodents. In P. Bateson (Ed.),Mate choice (pp. 311–327). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Fillion, T. J., &Blass, E. M. (1986). Infantile experience with suckling odors determines adult sexual behavior in male rats.Science,231, 729–731.
Galef, B. G., Jr. (1982). Acquisition and waning of exposure-induced attraction to a nonnatural odor in rat pups.Developmental Psychobiology,15, 479–490.
Galef, B. G., Jr., &Kaner, H. C. (1980). Establishment and maintenance of preference for natural and artificial olfactory stimuli in juvenile rats.Journal of Comparative & Physiological Psychology,94, 588–595.
Huck, U. W., &Banks, E. M. (1980). The effects of cross-fostering on the behavior of two species of North American lemmings,Dicrostonyx groenlandicus andLemmus trimucronatus: III. Agonistic behavior.Behaviour,73, 261–276.
Kuo, Z. Y. (1960). Studies on the basic factors in animal fighting: VII. Inter-species coexistence in mammals.Journal of Genetic Psychology,97, 211–225.
LeRoy, J. R., Roy, M. A., &Briley, S. M. (1982). Social preferences in mice influenced by ambient stimuli in the general rearing environment.Animal Behaviour,30, 940–941.
Mainardi, D., Marsan, M., &Pasquali, A. (1965). Causation of sexual preferences in the house mouse. The behaviour of mice reared by parents whose odour was artifically altered.Atti della Società Italiana di Scienze Naturali, e del Museo Civile di Storia Naturale,104, 325–338.
Marr, J. N., &Lilliston, L. G. (1969). Social attachment in rats by odor and age.Behaviour,33, 277–282.
McGuire, B. (1988). Effects of cross-fostering on parental behavior of meadow voles (Microtus pennsylvanicus).Journal of Mammalogy,69, 332–341.
McGuire, B., &Novak, M. (1987). The effects of cross-fostering on the development of social preferences in meadow voles (Microtus pennsylvanicus).Behavioral & Neural Biology,47, 167–172.
Stark, B., &Hazlett, B. A. (1972). Effects of olfactory experience on aggression inMus musculus andPeromyscus maniculatus.Behavioral Biology,1, 265–269.
Wuensch, K. L. (1982). Effect of scented traps on captures ofMus musculus andPeromyscus maniculatus.Journal of Mammalogy,63, 312–315.
Wuensch, K. L. (1986). Development of responsiveness to conspecific scent in house mice: Effects of preweaning and postweaning experiences.Journal of General Psychology,113, 65–73.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
This report is based on a dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the PhD degree in experimental psychology at Miami University. I wish to acknowledge the assistance and support provided by the director of the dissertation, the late Patrick J. Capretta.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Wuensch, K.L. Fostering house mice onto rats and deer mice: Effects on response to species odors. Animal Learning & Behavior 20, 253–258 (1992). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03213379
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03213379