Role of maternal odors on foraging behavior during postnatal development in a solitary subterranean rodent Ctenomys talarum

ECHEVERRÍA AI; VASSALLO, AI

ACTA ETHOLOGICA

SPRINGER HEIDELBERG

Lugar: HEIDELBERG; Año: 2011 vol. 14 p. 1 - 9

0873-9749

Abstract We investigated the role of maternal odors emanatingfrom excretory deposits and/or glandular secretionsduring the postnatal development of foraging and relatedbehaviors in young Los Talas’ tuco-tucos (Ctenomys talarum),a solitary rodent, under seminatural conditions. Duringcafeteria tests, we offered them two of the grasses mostpreferred by adults of this species (bromegrass, Bromusunioloides and panicgrass, Panicum racemosum). We scentmarked one dietary option in a treatment group, and theother option in a second treatment group, keeping a thirdgroup with no odors as control. Pups did not show to prefer aspecial grass in particular, and maternal odors showed noeffect on the behavioral variables evaluated in this study.When they reached their weaning age, they showed anontogenetic change in food preferences, where they preferredbromegrass, and maternal odors influenced negatively on theconsumption of panicgrass. During dispersal, preference forbromegrass was expressed independently of the presence ofmaternal odors. Overall, their effect was less pronouncedthan age’s effect, and it was evident in only a subset of the