Affiliation:
1. University of Victoria
2. University of Saskatchewan
3. Conservation Science and Wildlife Health, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance
4. Polish Academy of Sciences
Abstract
Abstract
Scent originates from excretions and secretions, and its chemical complexity in mammals translates into a diverse mode of signalling. Identifying how information is encoded can help to establish the mechanisms of olfactory communication and explore the use of odours as chemical signals. Building upon existing behavioural and histological literature, we sought to examine the chemical profile of secretions used for scent marking by a solitary, non-territorial carnivore, the brown bear (Ursus arctos). We investigated the incidence, abundance, and uniqueness of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from cutaneous glandular secretions of 12 wild brown bears, and assessed whether age-sex class, body site, and individual identity explained profile variation. The average number of compounds varied by age, but not solely by sex or body site. VOC profiles varied in composition and structure by age and individual identity (when individuals were grouped by sex), but not solely by sex or body site. Individual compound uniqueness varied by body site and age for both males and females and across individuals. Our results indicate that brown bear skin-borne secretions may facilitate age-sex class and individual recognition, which can contribute towards further understanding of mating systems and social behaviour.
Publisher
Research Square Platform LLC
Reference107 articles.
1. Scent-marking displays provide honest signals of health and infection;Zala SM;Behav. Ecol.,2004
2. Allen, M. L., Wallace, C. F. & Wilmers, C. C. Patterns in bobcat (Lynx rufus) scent marking and communication behaviors. J. Ethol. 2014 331 33, 9–14 (2014).
3. The highs and lows of chemical communication in giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca): Effect of scent deposition height on signal discrimination;White AM;Behav. Ecol. Sociobiol.,2002
4. Chemical composition of scent marks in the ringtailed lemur (Lemur catta): glandular differences, seasonal variation, and individual signatures;Scordato ES;Chem. Senses,2007
5. Maynard Smith, J. & Harper, D. Animal signals. (Oxford University Press, 2003).