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Aggression in domesticated rats reared in a burrow‐digging environment
Author(s) -
Nikoletseas Michael,
Lore Richard
Publication year - 1981
Publication title -
aggressive behavior
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.223
H-Index - 92
eISSN - 1098-2337
pISSN - 0096-140X
DOI - 10.1002/1098-2337(1981)7:3<245::aid-ab2480070307>3.0.co;2-d
Subject(s) - burrow , aggression , digging , weaning , body weight , zoology , ecology , biology , developmental psychology , psychology , endocrinology , geography , archaeology
Male and female rats were raised individually in either large boxes filled with soil (burrow environment) or laboratory cages of comparable size (cage environment). In a test of intruder‐elicited aggression, intruders exposed to burrow‐environment residents lost more body weight, were more likely to have empty stomachs, and received more wounds during a 24 hour aggression test. The results indicate that the physical environment during the period from weaning to maturity is an important determinant of aggression intensity in adult rats.