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Olfactory discrimination as an isolating mechanism in speciating mole rats

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Summary

Olfactory discrimination was tested in two chromosome forms of the speciating fossorial rodent,Spalax ehrenbergi, in Israel. Females of the chromosome forms 2n=52 and 2n=58 were tested for male odour discrimination, the source of odour being either cage litter or urine. Estrous females of both forms preferred homochromosomal odours, whereas diestrous females showed no discrimination. These results suggest that olfactory discrimination may serve as a reproductive isolating mechanism in the speciation of mole rats.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, University of Haifa, Mount Carmel, 31 999, Haifa, Israel

    E. Nevo, M. Bodmer & Giora Heth

Authors
  1. E. Nevo
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  2. M. Bodmer
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  3. Giora Heth
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Additional information

Acknowledgments. Our thanks to M. Avrahami for field assistance, to I. Kornfield and S. Mendlinger for critically commenting on the manuscript, and to M. Haber for statistical advice. This project was supported in part by a Stiftung Volkswagenwerk, grant No. A 3: 11: 1434, and an Israel National Academy of Science, grant No. 184 to E. Nevo.

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Nevo, E., Bodmer, M. & Heth, G. Olfactory discrimination as an isolating mechanism in speciating mole rats. Experientia 32, 1511–1512 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01924423

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