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Ritualised Dung Kicking by White Rhino Males Amplifies Olfactory Signals but Reduces Odour Duration

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An Author Correction to this article was published on 11 March 2019

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Abstract

Many mammals enhance their olfactory signals visually by depositing them in conspicuous locations such as well-travelled paths. It is also possible to enhance the odour itself through behaviours aimed at modifying odour emission rates. White rhinos defecate in communal middens. While defecating, territorial males kick sharply with their back feet which disperses their dung. Despite being a ubiquitous trait of territorial male white rhinos, the reason behind this behaviour is unclear. We hypothesised that the purpose of dung kicking was for olfactory signal amplification (OSA) in terms of an increased emission of volatile compounds (i.e. increased signal strength). Using dung collected from non-territorial adult males (because it is not possible to collect whole dung from territorial males), we show that the dispersal of male white rhino dung causes OSA by increasing the emission of hydrocarbon acids. The dung odour of territorial and non-territorial males differs only quantitatively, hence it is likely that the same emission patterns occur for territorial male dung odours following dung dispersal. The volatile compound indicating age of intact dung was toluene, but for dispersed dung it was acetophenone (similar to territorial male dung). Despite the benefits of OSA, dung dispersal carried a cost of decreased odour longevity. Thus, signal detectability is temporally reduced. However, territorial males likely counteract this by defecating in middens both before and during peak visitation times by other individuals (15:00–23:00). As a result, we suggest that dung kicking by territorial males amplifies signal strength, such that their dung odours are the most prominent and easily detectable by individuals visiting the middens. This would then better signal territorial ownership to both potential rivals and potential mates.

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Change history

  • 11 March 2019

    The original version of this article unfortunately contained some mistakes.

  • 11 March 2019

    The original version of this article unfortunately contained some mistakes.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Dr. Adam Shuttleworth for processing GC-MS samples and Chris Kelly (WildlifeACT Fund) for use of camera traps.

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Author notes

  1. C. Marneweck

    Present address: School of Biology and Environmental Sciences, University of Mpumalanga, Mbombela, South Africa

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa

    C. Marneweck & A. M. Shrader

  2. Chemical Plant Ecology, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Darmstadt, Germany

    A. Jürgens

  3. Mammal Research Institute, Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa

    A. M. Shrader

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  1. C. Marneweck
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  2. A. Jürgens
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Correspondence to C. Marneweck.

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Marneweck, C., Jürgens, A. & Shrader, A.M. Ritualised Dung Kicking by White Rhino Males Amplifies Olfactory Signals but Reduces Odour Duration. J Chem Ecol 44, 875–885 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10886-018-0988-3

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