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A comparative study of rodent social behavior in a seminatural enclosure
Author(s) -
Dewsbury Donald A.
Publication year - 1983
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(1983)9:3<207::aid-ab2480090302>3.0.co;2-8
Subject(s) - microtus , peromyscus , aggression , litter , zoology , rodent , biology , mating , muridae , psychology , ecology , developmental psychology
Social behavior, aggression, and copulation were studied in six groups of two males and two females each in seven species of muroid rodents ( Clethrionomys gapperi, Microtus montanus, M ochrogaster, M pennsylvanicus, Peromyscus eremicus, P leucopus , and P polionotus ) in a seminatural enclosure. Data were compared to those from an earlier study with P maniculatus tested under identical conditions. There were appreciable species differences in levels of both aggressive and sexual behavior; the two were not significantly correlated. Although levels of aggression did not appear well correlated with reports of social structure in the field, patterns of weight loss and litter production during the study did appear correlated. In general, levels of copulatory behavior appeared weakly correlated with factors previously proposed as predictors of polygamous mating systems; levels of aggressive behavior were better correlated with taxonomy.