Abstract
Differences in urine marking behavior between and within groups of female common voles of different relatedness were studied to investigate hierarchical structures among them. Marking intensity was visualized using unmetabolizable dyes added to drinking water. Urine marking was most intensive in groups of three unrelated females and lowest in groups of three sisters. In groups of three unrelated females, either one female marked more intensively than the other individuals, or two females marked more than the other one. In mother-daughter groups, the mother showed higher urine marking intensity than her daughters. Sisters did not differ in their urine marking behavior. Marking intensity correlated with the reproductive output of the investigated groups. Groups with highest marking intensity (three unrelated females), showed the lowest reproductive activity, whereas groups of three sisters showed the highest. The results suggest that hierarchical structures are established in groups of one mother and two of her daughters, and in groups of unrelated females, but not in groups of sisters. This affects the reproductive output of female groups, which in turn may be relevant to the multi-annual population cycle of the common vole.
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Heise, S.R. (1999). Urine Marking and Social Structure in Groups of Related and Unrelated Female Common Voles (Microtus Arvalis). In: Johnston, R.E., Müller-Schwarze, D., Sorensen, P.W. (eds) Advances in Chemical Signals in Vertebrates. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-4733-4_21
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-4733-4_21
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