PERSISTENCE OF THE ATTRACTIVENESS OF 2 SEX-SPECIFIC SCENTS IN MEADOW VOLES, MICROTUS-PENNSYLVANICUS

The function of an odour may be reflected in its fade-out time in the environment. In this study, we investigated fade-out times of two spec ific odours, the anogenital area scent and that of the posterolateral region. These two odours support opposite-sex preferences in male and female meadow voles, Microtus pennsylvanicus, but convey nonidentical information to conspecifics during the breeding season. The first expe riment tested whether meadow voles respond preferentially to scents ch at were aged for 15 min (fresh) to 30 d. Males preferred female anogen ital area scent to male anogenital area scent if both scents were less than or equal to 10 d old. By comparison, females preferred male anog enital area scent to female anogenital area scent if the scents were l ess than or equal to 25 d old. However, male and female voles preferre d the posterolateral scene of males to that of females if the scents w ere less than or equal to 1 d old. Thus, fade-out times for these two scents differ for males and females, suggesting different functions. I n the second experiment, male and female voles preferred fresh anogeni tal area scent and fresh posterolateral region scene compared with tho se same scents that were older. This result suggests that older scents may have lost information over rime about the sex of the donor. Overa ll, data from both experiments indicate that voles may use specific sc enes for communication in different social contexts.