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Animal cognition2022; 25(6); 1443-1452; doi: 10.1007/s10071-022-01625-5

Why wait to mark? Possible reasons behind latency from olfactory exploration to overmarking in four African equid species.

Abstract: Whereas most studies on overmarking in mammals analysed the rate of overmarking, that those investigate time between exploration of an olfactory stimulus and the response to it remain less common, with inconsistent results. We examined the latency in time between elimination by the sender and sniffing by the receiver, and from sniffing and overmarking, in four captive African equid species to explore differences among species, and among age and sex classes. We investigated these latency time periods in light of three potential hypotheses explaining overmarking behaviour in equids: social bonds, group cohesion, and intrasexual competition. Analysing 1684 events of sniffing and 719 of overmarking among 130 individuals, we found that (i) the time from elimination to overmarking was shorter among female friends and in parent-offspring dyads, proving support to the social bond hypothesis; (ii) intraspecific differences in time periods do not reflect the social organisation of species, thus not supporting the group cohesion hypothesis; (iii) males were more attracted to elimination of conspecifics than females, and female's eliminations were inspected longer, in line with the sexual competition hypothesis and/or reproductive behaviour. In addition, we found that the younger foals came to sniff eliminations faster than older ones, and in larger groups foals devoted longer time to sniffing the elimination before overmarking. We concluded that examination of the elimination could be driven by motivations other than the decision to overmark. Whereas overmarking serves to express bonds to a familiar individual, the latency of overmarking reflects more reproductive interests.
© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.
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Publication Date: 2022-05-12 PubMed ID: 35554766PubMed Central: 2391181DOI: 10.1007/s10071-022-01625-5Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The researchers observed four different African equid species, documenting how long they took to sniff and overmark the waste of other animals in order to understand the motivations behind their overmarking behavior. They found that the social bonds between animals, group cohesion, and competition between members of the same sex all influence this behavior.

Methodology

  • The study involved inspection of four African equid species kept in captivity.
  • The researchers analyzed the span of time between the elimination of waste by a “sender” animal and its subsequent exploration by a “receiver” animal.
  • They also scrutinized the time it took for overmarking, a behavior in which one individual marks over the scent of another, to occur following the exploration of the waste.
  • The researchers had three hypotheses: overmarking could be an expression of social bonds; it could foster group cohesion; or it signifies intrasexual competition.
  • In total, 1684 sniffing events and 719 overmarking episodes among 130 individuals were taken into consideration.

Findings

  • The time from elimination to overmarking was found to be shorter in instances where there was a relationship of friendship between females, or parent-offspring bonds, thereby supporting the social bond hypothesis.
  • The variance in the time frame within the same species did not correlate with the social structure of the species, challenging the premise of the group cohesion hypothesis.
  • Males were found to be more attracted to the waste of same species individuals compared to females. Moreover, they spent a longer duration inspecting female waste, which validated the sexual competition hypothesis and/or indicated reproductive interest.
  • The researchers also noticed that younger foals were quicker to approach eliminations for sniffing while in larger groups, these foals took more time for sniffing prior to overmarking.

Conclusion

  • The researchers concluded that motivations for examining waste may not solely be connected to deciding whether or not to overmark.
  • While overmarking does seem to express familiar bonds, the timing of such overmarking shows a closer link to reproductive interests.

Cite This Article

APA
Pluháček J, Tučková V, Šárová R, King SRB. (2022). Why wait to mark? Possible reasons behind latency from olfactory exploration to overmarking in four African equid species. Anim Cogn, 25(6), 1443-1452. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10071-022-01625-5

Publication

Animal cognition
ISSN: 1435-9456
NlmUniqueID: 9814573
Country: Germany
Language: English
Volume: 25
Issue: 6
Pages: 1443-1452

Researcher Affiliations

Pluháček, Jan
  • Department of Ethology, Institute of Animal Science, Přátelství 815, Uhříněves, 10400, Prague, Czech Republic. janpluhacek@seznam.cz.
  • Ostrava Zoo, Michálkovická 2081/197, 71000, Ostrava, Czech Republic. janpluhacek@seznam.cz.
  • Departement of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Science, University of Ostrava, Chittussiho 10, 71000, Ostrava, Czech Republic. janpluhacek@seznam.cz.
Tučková, Vladimíra
  • Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská 1760, 37005, České Budějovice, Czech Republic.
Šárová, Radka
  • Department of Ethology, Institute of Animal Science, Přátelství 815, Uhříněves, 10400, Prague, Czech Republic.
King, Sarah R B
  • Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory, Warner College of Natural Resources, Colorado State University, Campus Delivery 1499, Fort Collins, USA.

MeSH Terms

  • Male
  • Horses
  • Female
  • Animals
  • Smell / physiology
  • Mammals

Grant Funding

  • MZE-RO0718 / Ministerstvo Zemu011bdu011blstvu00ed
  • 2011/008 / Jihou010desku00e1 Univerzita v u010cesku00fdch Budu011bjovicu00edch

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