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Social Status and Plasma‐Testosterone‐Titers in Male Guinea Pigs (Cavia aperes f. porcellus )
Author(s) -
Sachser Norbert,
Pröve Ekkehard
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
ethology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.739
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1439-0310
pISSN - 0179-1613
DOI - 10.1111/j.1439-0310.1986.tb00576.x
Subject(s) - cavia , agonistic behaviour , courtship , biology , testosterone (patch) , titer , demography , zoology , psychology , guinea pig , endocrinology , social psychology , sociology , aggression , immunology , antibody
Abstract The relationship between social status and testosterone (T) titers was studied in male guinea pigs living in a) either one group of 12 males and 12 females for 14–20 months in a 7.86 m 2 enclosure or in b) five groups of 3 males and 2 females for four months in 3.00 m 2 enclosures. As described in the literature the social structure of the large group was mainly characterized by long‐term male‐female associations and spatial preferences whereas in the small groups the linear rank‐order between the males was the most obvious element. In all groups the rank‐position was positively correlated with the amount of courtship bouts displayed. Fighting occurred only in the large group and in one small group where a challenge to the alpha‐position took place. Here the highest ranking males showed highest T‐titers in their groups. In those four groups where no fighting occurred rank‐position and amount of courtship behaviour displayed was uncorrelated to plasma‐T‐titers. Our findings suggest that endogenous levels of T only reflect the highest ranking males' social status when their social position is challenged. When dominance relations are resolved and stabilized a male's rank‐position and its amount of courtship behaviour displayed appear independent of plasma‐T‐levels in guinea pigs.