Meeting Abstract

21.3  Monday, Jan. 4  Dietary protein content affects top-scent preference in meadow voles HOBBS, N. J.*; FERKIN, M. H.; University of Memphis nhobbs@memphis.edu

Encountering over-marks, the overlapping scent marks of two different conspecifics, is a feature of olfactory communication for most terrestrial mammals. Previous studies have shown that when exposed to a same-sex over-mark, meadow voles, Microtus pennsylvanicus, show a preference for the scent mark of the top-scent donor to that of the bottom-scent donor. This preference suggests that voles attach a higher value to the message found in the top-scent mark relative to the bottom-scent mark. However, the message contained in these signals as well as their meaning can be affected by the sender’s and the receiver’s diet and nutritional state, which may affect the receiver’s preference for the top-scent mark. Because dietary protein is involved in the behaviors that support reproduction and mate attraction in mammals, including voles, we tested the hypothesis that the dietary protein content of both senders and receivers affects the preference for the top-scent donor. In Experiment 1, we altered the protein content of the diet of the receiver by feeding them either a 9%, 13%, or 22% protein diet. In Experiment 2, we altered the protein content of the two senders’ diets, by feeding them either a 9% or 22% protein diet. In Experiment 1, male and female voles fed a 22% protein diet showed a preference for the mark of the top-scent donor, but voles fed either a 9% or 13% protein diet did not show this preference. In Experiment 2, male and female voles showed a preference for the top-scent donor if it was fed a 22% protein diet. However, female but not male voles showed a preference for the top-scent mark if the donor was fed a 9% protein diet. Overall, dietary protein content of both the sender and receiver affects the preference of meadow voles for the top-scent donor over the bottom-scent donor of a same-sex over-mark.