FEMALE PREFERENCES FOR UNMATED VERSUS MATED MALES IN 2 SPECIES OF VOLES (MICROTUS-OCHROGASTER AND MICROTUS-MONTANUS)

One criterion of mate choice, female preferences for unmated versus mated males, was examined for prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster), a generally monogamous species, and montane voles (M. montanus), a generally polygamous species. In tether tests and anesthetization tests, prairie vole females preferentially associated with unmated males over males that had been mated for three ejaculations prior to testing. When mated males delivered one, as opposed to three, ejaculations prior to testing, prairie vole females showed no preferences in tether tests and greatly reduced preferences in anesthetization tests. Montane vole females showed few preferences during either procedure regardless of the number of prior ejaculations by the mated male. Species differences in female preference for unmated males parallel differences in other mating preferences and may be related to mating system differences.