Nature & Environment
Microbes Residing in Hyena Help in Clan Communication
Brooke Miller
First Posted: Aug 31, 2012 05:25 AM EDT
For the first time a study has shown how different social groups of mammals possess different odor producing bacterial communities. The study published in the current issue of Scientific Reports focus on Hyenas that is one of the smallest in the mammalian group.
According to the researchers from the Michigan State University, the bacterium that dwells in the scent glands of this nocturnal animal hyenas are said to be the key controllers of communication. The study shows link between diversity of hyena clans and the different microbial communities that reside in their scent glands. The unique chemical that is produced by this community is easily distinguished by hyenas.
"A critical component of every animal's behavioral repertoire is an effective communication system," said Kevin Theis, the paper's lead author and Michigan State University postdoctoral researcher, who co-authored the study with Kay Holekamp, MSU zoologist. "It is possible that without their bacteria, many animals couldn't 'say' much at all."
Prior to this the studies were done on the microbes that help in digestion and other functions. It is known that most mammals use scent to signal a wide range of traits, including sex, age, reproductive status and group membership. The researchers highlight the contribution of new DNA sequencing technologies that project the role if bacteria in animal behaviour.
In order to get more insight on this finding, Theis acquired the details about the different types of bacteria that are present in the samples of paste, a sour smelling secretion that comes from the hyenas deposits. Also field samples of the hyenas scent pouches were collected and they were analyzed with the aid of next generation sequence technology.
The researchers noted a great similarity of microbial speaking in the deposits left by members of same clan. They differed from paste left by hyenas from other clans.
"One benefit of sharing a common microbial community in their scent pouches would be in terms of job sharing when hyenas scent mark their territory," Theis said. "Multiple members of the clan could more efficiently carry out the job and mark more territory."
"Furthermore, group-specific social odors could facilitate the recognition of social partners, thereby reducing rates of squabbles within clans," he added.
"The complex social lives of these animals may ultimately be reliant upon their unheralded symbiotic microbial communities," Theis said.
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First Posted: Aug 31, 2012 05:25 AM EDT
For the first time a study has shown how different social groups of mammals possess different odor producing bacterial communities. The study published in the current issue of Scientific Reports focus on Hyenas that is one of the smallest in the mammalian group.
According to the researchers from the Michigan State University, the bacterium that dwells in the scent glands of this nocturnal animal hyenas are said to be the key controllers of communication. The study shows link between diversity of hyena clans and the different microbial communities that reside in their scent glands. The unique chemical that is produced by this community is easily distinguished by hyenas.
"A critical component of every animal's behavioral repertoire is an effective communication system," said Kevin Theis, the paper's lead author and Michigan State University postdoctoral researcher, who co-authored the study with Kay Holekamp, MSU zoologist. "It is possible that without their bacteria, many animals couldn't 'say' much at all."
Prior to this the studies were done on the microbes that help in digestion and other functions. It is known that most mammals use scent to signal a wide range of traits, including sex, age, reproductive status and group membership. The researchers highlight the contribution of new DNA sequencing technologies that project the role if bacteria in animal behaviour.
In order to get more insight on this finding, Theis acquired the details about the different types of bacteria that are present in the samples of paste, a sour smelling secretion that comes from the hyenas deposits. Also field samples of the hyenas scent pouches were collected and they were analyzed with the aid of next generation sequence technology.
The researchers noted a great similarity of microbial speaking in the deposits left by members of same clan. They differed from paste left by hyenas from other clans.
"One benefit of sharing a common microbial community in their scent pouches would be in terms of job sharing when hyenas scent mark their territory," Theis said. "Multiple members of the clan could more efficiently carry out the job and mark more territory."
"Furthermore, group-specific social odors could facilitate the recognition of social partners, thereby reducing rates of squabbles within clans," he added.
"The complex social lives of these animals may ultimately be reliant upon their unheralded symbiotic microbial communities," Theis said.
See Now: NASA's Juno Spacecraft's Rendezvous With Jupiter's Mammoth Cyclone