Scent marking

The red fox (Vulpes vulpes) uses a chemical communication system based on scent marks in urine. Recent work has shown one component of fox urine to be a sulfide. Mass spectral analysis of the pure scent-mark component shows M+ = 116. IR spectroscopy shows an intense band at 890 cm-1, and H NMR spectroscopy reveals the following peaks ... 

Behavioural testing of protein fractions has not kept pace with semiochemical studies. Belcher et al. (1990) found that the mixed scent marks of the Saddle-backed Tamarin (S. fusicollis) comprise urine and genital/suprapubic gland secretions. Both sexes deposit mixtures of pheromonally active large molecules at, for example, exudate feeding... 

Prevention of access is the least intrusive method since it need not have any irreversible consequences for the afferent pathway. The common entrance to both olfactory systems in newts is easily closed-off by plugging the nostrils (Kikuyama et al., 1997). A potentially reversible method threaded plugs into the NP canal of cats via the nasal cavity (Verbeme, 1980). This procedure produced a slight effect on male chemoinvestigation of urine and or scent marks. The advantages of avoiding tissue disturbance then, have to be offset by the lack of any estimate of the effectiveness of the blockade, especially if reversible. Tissue cement injections into the N-Pd can be applied to the larger... 

Hormonal influences may be limited to sexually relevant cues, since not all scent marks are socially relevant in all situations (Petrulis et al., 1995 and 1997). Chemoinvestigation by male hamsters of the female-indicator compound DMDS was independent of T. and did not differ from that of females. In contrast, the frequency of chemoinvestigation by castrates to vaginal secretion (containing DMDS) was enhanced by T. intact males investigated FHVS five times more than they do the females. 

The ability to compare semiochemical patterns and to assess degrees of similarity is a likely mechanism underlying the establishment, and eventually the maintenance of genetic divergence. Amongst Tamarins (Saguinus spp.) and Marmosets, both for within- and between- (related) species distinctions, the complexity of their scent marks provides a discriminatory mechanism (Epple et ai, 1987 Smith et al., 1997). Mixed species groups of these monkeys are enabled to co-exist, to... 

Fig. 7.10 Vomeronasalectomy effects on chemocommunication. (a) Inhibitory effect of VN-x on urine-induction of scent marking in male Gerbils frequency/5 min (from Probst, 1990).

Belcher A.M., Epple G., Greenfield K.L., Richards L.E., et al. (1990). Proteins biologically relevant components of the scent marks of a primate (Saguinus fusicollis). Chem Senses 15, 431-446. 

Black-Cleworth P. and Verbeme G. (1975). Scent-marking, dominance and flehmen behavior in domestic rabbits in an artificial laboratory territory. Chem Senses Flav 1, 465-494. 

Epple G. (1978). Studies on the nature of chemical signals in scent marks and urine of Saguinus fiiscicollis (Callitrichidae, Primates). J Chem Ecol 4, 383-394. 

Epple G., Alveario M.C., Golob N.F. and Smith A.B. (1980). Stability and attractiveness related to age of scent marks of Saddle-Back Tamarins (Saguinus fuscicollis). J Chem Ecol 6, 735-748. 

Gorman M.L. (1990). Scent marking stratgies in mammals. Rev Suisse Zool 97, 3-30. 

Herrera E. and Macdonald D.W. (1994). Social significance of scent marking in Capybaras. J Mammal 75, 410-415. 

Hurst J.L., Robertson D., Tolladay U. and Beynon R. (1998). Proteins in urine scent marks of male house mice extend the longevity of olfactory signals. Anim Behav 55, 1289-1297. 

Johnston R.E. (1992b). Vomeronasal and or olfactory mediation of ultrasonic calling and scent marking by female golden hamsters. Physiol Behav 51, 437-448. 

MacDonald D.W. and Krantz K. (1984). Behavioral, anatomical and chemical aspects of scent marking amongst Capybaras. J Zool 202, 341-360. 

Petrulis A. and Johnston R. (1999). Lesions centered on the medial amygdala impair scent-marking and sex-odor recognition, but spare discrimination of individual odors in female golden hamsters. Behav Neurosci 113, 345-357. 

Petrulis A., Peng M. and Johnston R.E. (1999). Effects of vomeronasal organ removal on individual odor discrimination, sex-odor preference, and scent marking by female hamsters. Physiol Behav 66, 73-83. 

Probst B. (1990). Female urinary chemosignals stimulate scent marking behaviour in male Mongolian Gerbils. In Chemical Signals in Vertebrates 5 (MacDonald D., Muller-Schwarze D. and Natynczuk S.E., eds.). University Press, Oxford, pp. 213-216. 

Regier F. and Goodwin M. (1977). On the chemical and environmental modulation of pheromone release from vertebrate scent marks. In Chemical Signals in Vertebrates 1 (Muller-Schwarze D. and Mozell M.M., eds.), pp. 115-134. 

Rylands A. (1985). Tree-gouging and scent marking by marmosets. Anim Behav 33, 1365-1367. 

Thiesen D., Regnier F., Rice M., Goodwin M., et al. (1974). Identification of a ventral scent marking pheromone in the male Mongolian Gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus). Science 184, 83-85. 

Ulibarri C. and Yahr R (1996). Effects of androgens and estrogens on sexual differentiation of sex behavior, scent marking and the sexually dimorphic area of the gerbil hypothalamus. Horn Behav 30, 107-130. 

Humphries, R. E., Robertson, D. H. L., Beynon, R. J. and Hurst, J. L. (1999) Unravelling the chemical basis of competitive scent marking in house mice. Anim. Behav. 58, 1177-1190. 

Johnson, R. P. (1975) Scent marking with urine in two races of the bank vole (Clethrionomys glareolus). Behaviour 55, 81-93. 

Reasner, D. S. and Johnston, R. E. (1987) Scent marking by male dwarf hamsters (Phodopus sungorus campbelli) in response to conspecific odors. Behav. Neural Biol. 48, 43—18. 

Brahmachary, R.L. Singh, M. and Rajput, Manisha (1999) Scent Marking in the Asiatic Lion. Current Science 76(4), 25 Feb., 480-481. 

Poddar-Sarkar M., Brahmachary, R.L. and Dutta, J. (1994) Scent marking in the Tiger. In R. Apfel-bach, D. Muller-Schwarze, K. Reutter and E. Weiler (Eds.) Chemical Signals in Vertebrates VII. Pergamon Press, UK. pp 339-344. 

---