Behavioural reaction of root vole (Microtus oeconomus Pallas) males of different social ranks to familiar and novel odour of conspecific males

• Autorzy: Sun P.
• Języki publikacji: EN

Abstrakty

EN

In this experiment, we tested the hypothesis that males of root voles (Microtus oeconomus Pallas) of different social ranks display different behavioural strategies. To document behavioural differences between social ranks, we investigated patterns in the behavioural responses to urine cues from familiar and novel individuals in a choice maze. Ten pairs of male voles were effectively used in this experiment. All behaviour was recorded with OBSERVER 5.0. When experiment was finished, video tapes were transformed into digital data. Then all data were analyzed by SPSS. The results showed that the approach latency of subordinates was shorter for familiar odours than novel ones, dominant individuals preferentially entered the strange odourant box, subordinates preferred familiar odours over novel ones, subordinates spent more time visiting familiar odours compared to the novel odours, dominants preferred novel odours to familiar ones, subordinates approached familiar odours more frequently than novel ones and self-groomed more often in the familiar odourant box than in the novel box, and dominant and subordinate individuals showed significantly different countermarking behaviours to familiar and novel odours. In conclusion, the dominants and subordinates displayed different behaviour patterns when faced to familiar and novel conspecific males' urine cues. The data support our hypothesis that differences in social rank induce differences in behavioural patterns.

Słowa kluczowe

EN

(Microtus oeconomus Pallas); odour cue; root vole; social rank

PL

nornik północny; ranga; społeczeństwo; sygnał; zapach

• Wydawca: Museum and Institute of Zoology, Polish Academy of Sciences
• Czasopismo: Polish Journal of Ecology
• Rocznik: 2007
• Tom: Vol. 55, nr 3
• Strony: 571--578
• Opis fizyczny: Bibliogr. 24 poz.,Rys., tab., wykr.,

Twórcy

autor

Sun P.

• Northwest Plateau Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences 59 Xiguan Street, Xining 810001, Quinghai Province, China,

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