Response To Con- and Heterospecific Male Odours By the Voles Micro Tus a Grestis, M. Arvalis and Clethrionomys Glareolus With Respect To Competition for Space

Abstract

AbstractAdults of Microtus agrestis, M. arvalis and Clethrionomys glareolus were offered the opportunity to explore an experimental alley, a section of which contained male odours of either of the three species. Neither of the species explored one of the sections of the alley more than the other one if the choice was between a section with conspecific odour and a non-odorous section. Both M. agrestis and C. glareolus preferred the non-odorous section when the choice was between M. arvalis odour and a non-odorous section. If an encounter with another vole was arranged in the alley before the opportunity was given to explore the partly odorous alley, then some additional avoiding responses to odours were assessed. M. agrestis now avoided both alien male conspecific odours and its own home cage odours. M. arvalis now avoided both the odours of C. glareolus and M. agrestis. Other responses to odours were not affected by an encounter. An encounter per se did not lead a vole to avoid the place where it had taken place. The survival value and the possible role of the avoiding tendencies in intra- and interspecific competition for space are discussed. Probably, odour avoidance is only an additional way in the communication between voles.