Manipulation of Olfactory Signaling and Mate Choice for Conservation Breeding: a Case Study of Harvest Mice

摘要: Abstract: Mate choice by females can introduce difficulties to captive breeding programs because there may be a conflict between the conservation manager's of mate (based on random allocation or maximizing heterogeneity) and females' own preferences, often resulting in incompatibility aggression. Similar effects are caused inappropriate social contexts at time pairing. We manipulated experience male female harvest mice (Micromys minutus) investigate whether we could enhance compatibility randomly allocated mates altering preferences. In one experiment, used test identify preferences two males then varied competitive context unpreferred transferring competitor's scent marks into their cages. The manipulation them increase investment form olfactory signaling (scent marking), which rodents use as an indicator quality when choosing mates. increased attractiveness relative initially preferred was repeated. second tested effect familiarity with odor transfer Females familiar tests were less aggressive toward pairs introduced than paired unfamiliar males. This kind approach influence choice, cages collections is effective practical behavioral means improving success programs.