Wyniki wyszukiwania - Biblioteka Nauki

1

Opposite-sex sibling recognition in adult root vole, Microtus oeconomus Pallas: phenotype matching or association

100%

Sun P. , Zhu W. , Zhao X.

Polish Journal of Ecology

|

2008

|

tom 56

|

nr 4

701-708

EN

Hypothesis of phenotype matching and association are the most likely mechanisms in kin recognition. These hypotheses were tested by observing behavioral responses of cross-fostered root voles to urine cues from familiar and unfamiliar kin and non-kin. In experiment I, approach latency by males was significantly longer in response to non-sibling reared together (NSRT) than to non-sibling reared apart (NSRA) females, whereas, investigatory and sniffing time were significantly less in response to NSRT than to NSRA. However females showed no event bias to odors from NSRT and NSRA males. In experiment II, the behavioral responses of males and females to urine odors from siblings reared apart (SRA) and NSRA were not related to the degree of genetic relationship. It was concluded that: Association mechanism is used by male root voles in opposite-sex sibling recognition; Female voles possibly adopt multiple recognition mechanisms in different social tests.

2

Intersexual attraction in natal dispersing root voles Microtus oeconomus

100%

Gundersen G. , Moe J. A. , Andreassen H. P. , Carlsen R. G. , Gundersen H.

Acta Theriologica

|

1999

|

tom 44

|

nr 3

EN

By an enclosure experiment we tested whether natal dispersing root voles Microtus oeconomus (Pallas, 1776) were prevented from colonising already occupied habitat patches or if they were attracted to habitat patches by potential mates. The treatment consisted of manipulating the presence of animals in immigration patches, either with the presence of a solitary sexually mature male or female, whereas empty patches were used as a control. Immigration patches were separated from a patch used for release of a matriline (mother with her newly weaned titter) by a semipermeable fence allowing only interpatch movements of young animals. We predicted that either a social fence would prevent immigration to treatment patches, or that potential mates would attract dispersing individuals. In particular we expected fewer dispersing males to colonise male occupied patches, and fewer dispersing females to colonise female occupied patches due to intrasexual competition, ie an intrasexual social fence. We found that a higher proportion of females settled in male treatment patches than in female patches, whereas male dispersal was unaffected by treatment. Thus, the observed female immigration pattern appeared to be an attraction to patches occupied by the opposite sex We found no sign that immigration was prevented by a social fence.

3

Visual cues as determinants of perceptual range in root voles Microtus oeconomus

100%

Andreassen H. P. , Bjornbom E. , Carlsen R. G. , Gundersen G. , Gundersen H.

Acta Theriologica

|

1998

|

tom 43

|

nr 4

EN

We tested whether the perceptual range of male root voles Microtus oeconomus (Pallas, 1776) could be determined by visual objects in the landscape. This was done by giving single mates the choice between three different sized visual cardboard patches randomly arranged around the perimeter of a circle located in agricultural fields. Effects of distance were tested by varying the diameter of the circle. The root voles were able to orient towards patches, but did not choose patches relative to their size. The ability to orient towards patches decreased with increasing distance between the release point and the patches.

4

Spatial dynamics of fragmented root vole [Microtus oeconomus] populations: preliminary results

100%

Bergers P. J. M. , Van Apeldoorn R. C. , Bussink H.

|

tom 20

|

nr 3-4

5

Effect of predator-induced maternal stress during gestation on growth in root voles Microtus oeconomus

84%

Bian J. , Wu Y. , Liu J.

Acta Theriologica

|

2005

|

tom 50

|

nr 4

473-482

EN

We studied the effect of maternal stress evoked by a severe stressor from the cues of predation risk during gestation on the growth of offspring in root volesMicrotus oeconomus Pallas, 1776. Body mass of both male and female offspring was significantly reduced in the period from birth to weaning. Females showed compensatory growth after weaning, whereas males maintained low body mass at weaning into adulthood. Maternal stress led to an elevated plasma corticosterone level in male offspring, but did not affect that of female offspring. Corticosterone levels remained elevated in males from stressed dams into adulthood. Increased levels of plasma corticosterone may have led to the inhibition of pituitary growth hormone and a chronically abnormal energy mobilization, considering the greater energy and metabolic requirements of male offspring, this may account for the sex-specific differences in compensatory growth. We suggest that in the high stress situation, endocrine-based sex-biased effects of maternal stress as a primary factor can lead to long-term physical and ecological consequences for male offspring.

6

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

84%

Sun P. , Zhao Y. , Zhao X. , Wang D.

|

nr 3

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.

7

Trypanosoma [Herpetosoma] microti Laveran et Pettit, 1909 in the social vole, Microtus socialis [Pallas, 1771] from Ukraine

84%

Wita I. , Karbowiak G. , Czaplinska U.

|

nr 3

EN

This study reports the light and electron microscopic examination of Trypanosoma (Herpetosoma) microti from the social vole (Microtus socialis, Rodentia) from the steppe near Askania Nova, Ukraine. Bloodstream trypomastigotes were identified morphometrically from 100 specimens from blood of 4 infected social voles. Body length ranged from 13.88-27.79 µm, and width from 0.53-2.06 µm, with the free flagellum 5.12-11.69 µm long. The trypanosomes were comparable to Trypanosoma microti from the short-tailed vole, Microtus agrestis, and the root vole, Microtus oeconomus. Cultured epimastigotes exhibited typical ultrastructural features similar to those of stercorarian and salivarian groups.

8

Local warming about 1.3 degree Celsius in alpine meadow has no effect on root vole [Microtus oeconomus L.] population during winter

84%

Sun P. , Zhao X. , Klein J. A. , Wei W.

Polish Journal of Ecology

|

2005

|

tom 53

|

nr 1

EN

The influence of air and soil warming on root vole (Microtus oeconomus L.) population was studied in winter period in top open chambers (OTC) (0.8–1.8 m²) warmed by conical fiberglass material and situated in alpine meadow (3250 m) at Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, China. The OTCs were distributed on an area of 30 × 30 m of experimental warming site; another site of the same area was a control one. The root vole population was investigated on two pairs of sites in “low-grazing” and “high-grazing” (by sheep) parts of the meadow; mark-recapture method was used. The winter-season averaged air and soil temperature inside of the chambers were 1.3°C higher than the temperature outside the chambers. The warming in the chambers had no statistically significant effect on root vole numbers, on average body mass of individual, and on average body mass of males and females. In conclusion, as small as 1.3°C warming of soil and air introduced locally and on small (several m²) scale, in the alpine meadow habitat in winter period, has possibly no effect on root vole numbers and biomass.

9

Cyclic voles and shrews and non-cyclic mice in a marginal grassland within European temperate forest

67%

Zub K. , Jedrzejewska B. , Jedrzejewski W. , Barton K. A.

Acta Theriologica

|

2012

|

tom 57

|

nr 3

EN

Cyclic population dynamics of small mammals are not restricted to the boreal and arctic zones of Eurasia and North America, but long-term data series from lower latitudes are still less common. We demonstrated here the presence of periodic oscillations in small mammal populations in eastern Poland using 22-year (1986–2007) trapping data from marginal meadow and river valley grasslands located in the extensive temperate woodland of Białowieża Primeval Forest. The two most common species inhabiting meadows and river valleys, root vole Microtus oeconomus and common shrew Sorex araneus, exhibited synchronous periodic changes, characterised by a 3-year time lag as indicated by an autocorrelation function. Moreover, the cycles of these two species were synchronous within both habitats. Population dynamics of the striped field mouse Apodemus agrarius was not cyclic. However, this species regularly reached maximum density 1 year before the synchronized peak of root voles and common shrews, which may suggest the existence of interspecific competition. Dynamics of all three species was dominated by direct density-dependent process, whereas delayed density dependent feedback was significant only in the root vole and common shrew. Climatic factors acting in winter and spring (affecting mainly survival and initial reproduction rates) were more important than those acting in summer and autumn and affected significantly only the common shrew. High temperatures in winter and spring had positive effects on autumn-to-autumn changes in abundance of this species, whereas deep snow in combination with high rainfall in spring negatively affected population increase rates in common shrew.

10

Chemical communication in mammal population: urinary olfactory chemosignals in lactating female root voles (Microtus oeconomus Pallas)

67%

Yu H. , Zhao X. , Yue P. , Sun P.

Polish Journal of Ecology

|

2010

|

tom 58

|

nr 1

EN

Urine is a major source of mammalian chemosignals. Among rodents, the sexual attractiveness and chemical constituents of urine vary with different reproductive stages. We confirmed the differing sexual attractiveness to males of the urine of lactating and non-lactating female root voles (Microtus oeconomus) and analyzed individual coding forms and lactation-specific putative pheromones, using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). First, we documented the behavioral preference of male voles to urine odors of lactating and non-lactating females in a choice maze. The results showed that male voles engaged in more sniffing behavior and spent more time self-grooming in response to urinary odors of lactating females than to urinary odors of non-lactating females. We then used GC-MS to analyze the urine’s individual coding forms and potential chemosignals. We identified 34 volatile compounds, corresponding to 34 GC peaks, in the urine of female voles. The components identified in the urine samples included benzo- forms, alkanes, alkenes, acids, esters, pyrans, alcohols, and other volatile compounds. 12 basic volatiles were detected in all urine samples while others were specific to individuals. (E)5-octadecene and (N) hexadecanoic acid were specific to the lactating stage. A quantitative comparison of the relative abundances of the basic GC peaks showed no difference between the lactating and non-lactating stages, suggesting that individual identity is coded in digital form. We suggest that the urine of lactating females possesses stronger sexual attraction cues because of the presence of (E)5-octadecene and (N)hexadecanoic acid, which are putative lactating pheromones. However, the specific function of the pheromones should be assessed further by bioassay.

11

Morphological variability of a root vole population in high mountain habitats, Hardangervidda, South Norway

67%

Markowski J. , Ostbye E.

Acta Theriologica

|

1992

|

tom 37

|

nr 1-2

EN

The variability of body and skull dimensions was examined in a population of the root vole, Microtus oeconomus (Pallas, 1776) from high mountain habitats, Hardangervidda, southern Norway. Morphometric analysis was made on 530 of 915 specimens obtained over an 8 year trapping period (1970 - 1978), taking into account sex, age class, season and population cycle. Sexual dimorphism was distinct in the oldest age group, in which males were significantly larger than females. The specimens from the peak phase were larger in body and skull dimensions (Chitty Effect). The influence of age structure on fluctuations in body size during the microtine cycles is discussed.

12

The morphology of Herpetosoma trypanosomes in small rodents in Poland

67%

Karbowiak G. , Wita I. , Rychlik L. , Gadomska K.

Wiadomości Parazytologiczne

|

1998

|

tom 44

|

nr 3