Effect of fluorescent powder marking of females on mate choice by male white-footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus)

Although fluorescent powder marking is a well established and common markin g technique used by small-mammal ecologists, few studies have commented on how it might affect behavior. Potential effects on behavior are particularl y relevant in studies that use fluorescent powder marking as a method of qu antifying mating behavior. We performed a laboratory experiment using white -footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus) to test the null hypothesis that the pre sence of fluorescent powder has no significant effect on mate choice. We te sted this hypothesis by establishing choice between a pair of females by a male and determining if the choice changed when one of the females was powd ered. The presence of fluorescent powder on females did not alter mate choi ce by males after a choice had been established. Our results demonstrate th at using fluorescent powder on females should not alter male mating activit y.