Evidence of female preference for odor of distant over local males in a bat with female dispersal. (3rd April 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Schneeberger, Karin; Schulze, Michael; Scheffler, Ingo; Caspers, Barbara A
• Editors: Jennions, Michael D
• Is Part Of: Behavioral ecology. Volume 32:Number 4(2021)
• Page Start: 657
• Page End: 661
• Publication Date: 2021-04-03
• Subjects: bats -- dispersal -- female preference -- male philopatry -- odor -- olfaction; Animal behavior -- Periodicals; Behavior evolution -- Periodicals; Ecology -- Periodicals; Psychology, Comparative -- Periodicals; 591.5
• DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arab003
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1045-2249

Abstract

Abstract: Geographic variation of sexually selected male traits is common in animals. Female choice also varies geographically and several studies found female preference for local males, which is assumed to lead to local adaptation and, therefore, increases fitness. As females are the nondispersing sex in most mammalian taxa, this preference for local males might be explained by the learning of male characteristics. Studies on the preference of females in female-dispersing species are lacking so far. To find out whether such females would also show preferences for local males, we conducted a study on greater sac-winged bats ( Saccopteryx bilineata ), a species where females disperse and males stay in their natal colony. Male greater sac-winged bats possess a wing pouch that is filled with odoriferous secretion and fanned toward females during courtship display. In a combination of chemical analysis and behavioral preference tests, we analyzed whether the composition of wing sac secretion varies between two geographically distinct populations (300 km), and whether females show a preference for local or distant male scent. Using gas chromatography, we found significant differences in the composition of the wing sac odors between the two geographically distinct populations. In addition, the behavioral preference experiments revealed that females of both populations preferred the scent of geographically distant males over local males. The wing sac odor might thus be used to guarantee optimal outbreeding when dispersing to a new colony. This is—to our knowledge—the first study on odor preference of females of a species with female-biased dispersal. Abstract : In most mammals, males disperse after sexual maturation, while females stay in their natal area. These females usually prefer local over foreign males, likely because they are better adapted to local conditions. In this study, we found that females of a rare female-dispersing species, the greater sac-winged bat ( Saccopteryx bilineata ), show preferences for the scent of geographically distant males. Thus, odor might be used to guarantee optimal outbreeding when females disperse to a new colony.