Foraging behavioural changes induced by conspecific and heterosubspecific odours in two strains of wild mice

Mice in wild populations of the two subspecies Mus musculus domesticus and Mus musculus musculus may potentially compete for food. Because of the importance of olfaction in mice, we hypothesised that the presence of unfamiliar conspecific or heterosubspecific chemical cues could play a role in access to and use of food resources. We used an experimental design that tested this assumption with males from two strains, originated from wild populations of these subspecies, as subjects. Exploratory activity, latency of food approach, time and frequency on the food area, number of seeds eaten and foraging rate (number of seeds eaten/time on the food areax100) were compared for three different categories of odours (own, same strain and other strain odours) in both strains. In a foraging context, unfamiliar odours induced behavioural changes in male mice, especially an increase in exploratory activity from the more (same strain) to the less similar odour (different strain), and a reduction of time spent in the food area. Odour similarity related to genetic proximity in Mus and the cost-benefit ratio of an encounter are two possible explanations for the different processes involved in the treatment of odours in these two strains of mice.