Meeting Abstract
Multimodal signaling is nearly ubiquitous across animal taxa. Multimodal signal components are often classified based on whether they contain the same, or redundant information to the receiver (e.g., the backup hypothesis) or different, non-redundant information to the receiver (e.g., the multiple messages hypothesis). While much research has focused on male signal production contributing to female mate-choice or preferences, females often give their own multimodal cues during intersexual communication events. Here we investigated the role of two different female vocalizations produced by the female house mouse Mus musculus: the broadband, relatively low frequency squeak, and the higher frequency, frequency modulated ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs). We then presented these vocalizations with and without female urine in a cue-isolation experiment to male receivers. This would allow to establish whether female multimodal cues followed the predictions of the backup or multiple messages hypothesis. We found that female urine and vocalizations act as non-redundant multimodal cues as males responded with different behaviors and vocalization patterns depending on the social context. Specifically, male investigative behavior was greatest when urine was present. Similarly, males made more USVs (both with and without harmonics) when urine was present. In contrast, the addition of urine to squeaks and USVs did not alter male vocal behaviors relative to urine alone. Our data suggest that female urine, rather than female vocalizations, influences male vocal courtship in this experimental paradigm. Furthermore, these results suggest that intersexual interactions between mice are highly complex and are dependent on feedback from both social partners, males and females alike.
