Protein pheromone expression levels predict and respond to the formation of social dominance networks
| Autor: | James S. Ruff, Christopher B. Cunningham, Wayne K. Potts, Adam C. Nelson |
|---|---|
| Rok vydání: | 2015 |
| Předmět: |
Male
Regulation of gene expression Competitive Behavior Major urinary proteins Ecology Biology Attraction Article Pheromones Animal Communication Mice Proteinuria Gene Expression Regulation Social Dominance Evolutionary biology Creatinine Sexual selection Sex pheromone Animals Pheromone Electrophoresis Polyacrylamide Gel Female Animal communication Ecology Evolution Behavior and Systematics Social status |
| Zdroj: | Journal of Evolutionary Biology. 28:1213-1224 |
| ISSN: | 1010-061X |
| Popis: | Communication signals are key regulators of social networks, and are thought to be under selective pressure to honestly reflect social status, including dominance status. The odors of dominants and nondominants differentially influence behavior, and identification of the specific pheromones associated with, and predictive of, dominance status is essential for understanding the mechanisms of network formation and maintenance. In mice, major urinary proteins (MUPs) are excreted in extraordinary large quantities and expression level has been hypothesized to provide an honest signal of dominance status. Here, we evaluate whether MUPs are associated with dominance in wild-derived mice by analyzing expression levels before, during, and after competition for reproductive resources over three days. During competition, dominant males have 24% greater urinary MUP expression than nondominants. The MUP darcin, a pheromone that stimulates female attraction, is predictive of dominance status: dominant males have higher darcin expression before competition. Dominants also have a higher ratio of darcin to other MUPs before and during competition. These differences appear transient, because there are no differences in MUPs or darcin after competition. We also find MUP expression is affected by sire dominance status: socially naive sons of dominant males have lower MUP expression, but this apparent repression is released during competition. A requisite condition for the evolution of communication signals is honesty, and we provide novel insight into pheromones and social networks by showing that MUP and darcin expression is a reliable signal of dominance status, a primary determinant of male fitness in many species. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
| Externí odkaz: |
|
Plný text