Although fluorescent powder marking is a well established and common marking technique used by small-mammal ecologists, few studies have commented on how it might affect behavior. Potential effects on behavior are particularly relevant in studies that use fluorescent powder marking as a method of quantifying mating behavior. We performed a laboratory experiment using white-footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus) to test the null hypothesis that the presence of fluorescent powder has no significant effect on mate choice. We tested this hypothesis by establishing choice between a pair of females by a male and determining if the choice changed when one of the females was powdered. The presence of fluorescent powder on females did not alter mate choice by males after a choice had been established. Our results demonstrate that using fluorescent powder on females should not alter male mating activity.
How to translate text using browser tools
1 October 2001
Effect of Fluorescent Powder Marking of Females on Mate Choice by Male White-Footed Mice (Peromyscus leucopus)
MATINA C. KALCOUNIS-RÜPPELL,
AMANDA PATRICK,
JOHN S. MILLAR
ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE
It is not available for individual sale.
This article is only available to subscribers.
It is not available for individual sale.
It is not available for individual sale.
The American Midland Naturalist
Vol. 146 • No. 2
October 2001
Vol. 146 • No. 2
October 2001