Response of adult djungarian hamsters (Phodopus sungorus) to odor signals of individuals of the same and opposite sex in different seasons, with special reference to breeding

摘要

Studies were carried out on adult Djungarian hamster (Phodopus sungorus) males living in familial pairs under natural thermal and light regimes tear-round. The response of hamsters to the odors of urine, secretory substances of the midabdominal gland and additional saccules in the ostium of cheek pouches, and faeces from conspecific males and females were studied. The results obtained suggest that the odors of urine and also feces play an important role in sexual recognition of individuals. These odors are especially attractive for the males m summer, during the period of active breeding. The tested males examined the odor of the midabdominal gland from individuals of the same sex reliably longer throughout the year, but m winter the interest in this odor was higher than in summer. These secretory substances appear to be important in organization Of territorial interactions between individuals. The results of observations on breeding and the data on sex ratio in the broods from pairs with the tested males were compared to similar data obtained earlier for Roborovskii hamsters (Sokolov and Feoktistova, 1996). Similarities and differences were found in the course of breeding in the studied species.