Behavioral and endocrinological correlates of social status in the male sugar glider (Petaurus breviceps Marsupialia: Petauridae).
Socially dominant male sugar gliders are heavier than socially subordinate males, have higher plasma testosterone and lower cortisol concentrations, win more social encounters, scan the arena more, scent-mark more, and are more active and move more quickly, even though they spend more time in the colony nesting box. When they are transferred into a foreign stable colony there is an impressive reversal of behavioral measures and a concomitant decrease in concentration of plasma testosterone and rise in cortisol that is apparent over the first 3 weeks of observation.
Mallick
J
J
Department of Zoology, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia.
Stoddart
D M
DM
Jones
I
I
Bradley
A J
AJ
D000818:Animals; D001143:Arousal / Q000502:physiology*; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology; D004291:Dominance-Subordination; D005260:Female; D006608:Hierarchy, Social; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008394:Marsupialia / Q000502:physiology*; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology; D012919:Social Behavior; D012931:Social Environment; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood*
D013739:Testosterone; D006854:Hydrocortisone