Cheetah behaviour at scent‐marking sites indicates differential use by sex and social rank. (9th June 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Cornhill, Kristina L.; Kerley, Graham I. H.
• Editors: Fusani, Leonida
• Is Part Of: Ethology. Volume 126:Number 10(2020)
• Page Start: 976
• Page End: 986
• Publication Date: 2020-06-09
• Subjects: carnivore -- intraspecific communication -- reproductive signalling -- scent‐marking -- territory -- vocalization; Animal behavior -- Periodicals; 591.5
• DOI: 10.1111/eth.13071
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0179-1613

Abstract

Abstract: Scent‐marking is an important form of communication for solitary species, as the information remains for the receiver after the sender has left the area. Individuals of different demographic or dominance classes (ranks) need to provide different information to conspecifics. Therefore, the use of scent‐marking sites is of particular value for solitary species, but their functional role may vary between demographic classes. Using camera traps, we video‐recorded the behaviour of cheetahs at scent‐marking sites, assessing how individuals of different sex and social rank use the sites for different roles. We tested hypotheses that these sites are for territorial marking, reproductive signalling and information gathering. We found that females visit the sites infrequently, apparently to signal oestrous events, while males visit the sites frequently for territorial marking and information gathering. Among males, dominant individuals scent‐marked the most and reacted to female visitation by vocalizing. In contrast, subordinate males, although also visiting the sites, were not recorded scent‐marking nor vocalizing. These differences in the functional use of scent‐marking sites among sex and social rank support the hypotheses that cheetahs use these scent‐marking sites for both territorial and reproductive signalling, as well as to gather information. Abstract : Dominant male cheetahs visit scent‐marking sites to mark territories, whereas subordinate male cheetahs do not scent‐mark at sites they visit. Female cheetahs visit scent‐marking sites to signal oestrous status to males and the dominant males respond by vocalizing.