Life history costs of olfactory status signalling in mice

Citation

Gosling LM, Roberts SC, Thornton EA & Andrew MJ (2000) Life history costs of olfactory status signalling in mice. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, 48 (4), pp. 328-332. https://doi.org/10.1007/s002650000242

Abstract
Large body size confers a competitive advantage in animal contests but does not always determine the outcome. Here we explore the trade-off between short-term achievement of high social status and longer-term life history costs in animals which vary in competitive ability. Using laboratory mice, Mus musculus, as a model system, we show that small competitors can initially maintain dominance over larger males by increasing investment in olfactory status signalling (scent-marking), but only at the cost of reduced growth rate and body size. As a result they become more vulnerable to dominance reversals later in life. Our results also provide the first empirical information about life history costs of olfactory status signals.

Keywords
status signals; olfaction; life history costs; laboratory mice

Journal
Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology: Volume 48, Issue 4