The response of rodents to scent marks: Four broad hypotheses

摘要: This article is part of a Special Issue "Chemosignals and Reproduction". Many terrestrial mammals must be able to distinguish between the myriad scent marks they encounter in order for them facilitate or deter direct interactions with their donors. I review studies that examine how rodents, mainly meadow voles (Microtus pennsylvanicus), respond when conspecifics heterospecifics, context, as well age condition senders receivers, affect responses. The uses four broad hypotheses discuss response rodents marks. are follows: 1) Scent convey accurate information receiver about sender's state phenotype genotype. 2) individually distinct. 3) receivers flexible would modulated by cognitive abilities receivers. 4) Receivers contained conveyed mark manner will increase survival fitness. cited this show signal phenotype, genotype, condition, which use among different doing so, tailor accordingly Thus, may serve guide our understanding provide conceptual framework future research development additional hypotheses.