Presentation Details
| Dietary induced changes in gut microbiome and urinary profiles in males alter females’ mate choice Dingzhen Liu1, Yan He1, Runhan Shi1, Ruizi Li1, Zheng Yan1, Jiayuan Li2, Mei Yang2, Rongping Wei3. 1Beijing Normal University, Beijing, Beijing, China.2Xinyuan Black Bear Breeding Facility, Dujiangyan, Sichuan, China.3China Conservation and Research Centre for the Giant Panda, Chengdu, Sichuan, China |
Abstract
Chemosensory cues inform and affect mammalian mate selection. Gut microbiota (GM) impact host odor through the metabolic regulation of volatile compounds (VCs), yet their role in mate choice is underexplored. We supplemented captive male Asiatic black bears with antibiotic (AB) or yeast (DS). Urinary VCs and GM were analyzed before and after treatment; females’ behavioral preference for males’ urine collected before and after treatments was tested.
In DS males, the relative abundance of Sarcina and Vagococcus in GM declined significantly compared to pre-treatment, yet there was no α-diversity change. The urinary profile differed between pre- and post-DS males. In contrast to male urine before yeast feeding, females sniffed the urine odor of yeast-fed males significantly more often and for a longer duration. No such odor preference occurred in females to urine from AB males. Moreover, the deltas of duration of females’ sniffing at DS male urine odors collected before and after treatment were significantly larger than that at AB males. Our results provide the first evidence that GM modulation alters mate choice in females by changing urinary chemosensory cues in males.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author.
In DS males, the relative abundance of Sarcina and Vagococcus in GM declined significantly compared to pre-treatment, yet there was no α-diversity change. The urinary profile differed between pre- and post-DS males. In contrast to male urine before yeast feeding, females sniffed the urine odor of yeast-fed males significantly more often and for a longer duration. No such odor preference occurred in females to urine from AB males. Moreover, the deltas of duration of females’ sniffing at DS male urine odors collected before and after treatment were significantly larger than that at AB males. Our results provide the first evidence that GM modulation alters mate choice in females by changing urinary chemosensory cues in males.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author.
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