Intra- and interindividual variation in flank gland secretions of free-ranging shrews Crocidura russula

Details

Serval ID
serval:BIB_18E25CCE2B7A
Type
Article: article from journal or magazin.
Collection
Publications
Institution
Title
Intra- and interindividual variation in flank gland secretions of free-ranging shrews Crocidura russula
Journal
Journal of Chemical Ecology
Author(s)
Cantoni D., Favre L., Tencalla F., Croset P., Morgenthaler F., Camarda G., Ruchet C., Rivier L., Vogel P.
ISSN
0098-0331
Publication state
Published
Issued date
1996
Peer-reviewed
Oui
Volume
22
Number
9
Pages
1669-1688
Language
english
Abstract
Individual differences in Rank gland secretions were examined among males of the monogamous shrew Crocidura russula during the breeding and nonbreeding seasons. Gas chromatography was used to measure intra- and interindividual variation of flank gland secretions of free-ranging shrews from different populations. The number of compounds detected by gas chromatographic analyses was correlated with body mass, flank gland size, and the presence of blood parasites in individual shrews. Very few compounds were detected from the Bank gland area of juvenile males. After they reached sexual maturity, however, the number of compounds detected from the Rank gland secretions increased significantly. At the beginning of the reproductive season 48 different compounds were detected from male flank gland secretions. In the middle of the breeding season 70 compounds were detected, while only 11 compounds were detected during the nonbreeding season. Few compounds were common to all males. There were more volatile compounds in the Bank gland secretions of males in the beginning of the breeding season than later in the breeding season. Males from the same population had fewer differences in the elution profile of compounds than males from different populations indicating that individuals from a distinct population have similar elution profiles of compounds and that each population has its own type of elution profile. No correlations were found between the number of compounds detected by gas chromatography for each male and the male's body mass or flank gland size. Blood parasites (trypanosomes, Trypanosoma crocidurae) were found in only three of 30 males investigated.
Keywords
Crocidura russula, flank gland secretions, gas chromatography, flank gland size, body mass, blood parasites, shrews
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Create date
24/01/2008 18:32
Last modification date
20/08/2019 13:49
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