The Open-Field Behavior of Subadults of Two Mountain Vole Species (Alticola strelzowi and A. tuvinicus)
P. A. ZADUBROVSKIY1, A. V. STEPANOVA2, N. V. LOPATINA1, Yu. N. LITVINOV1
1Institute of Systematics and Ecology of Animals, SB RAS, 630091, Novosibirsk, Frunze str., 11
2Novosibirsk State University, 630090, Novosibirsk, Pirogova str., 2
Keywords: открытое поле, плоскочерепная полевка, Alticola strelzowi, тувинская полевка, Alticola tuvinicus, open field, flat-headed vole, Alticola strelzowi, Tuva silver vole, Alticola tuvinicus
Abstract
A comparative study of movement activity and anxiety in the “open field” tests was conducted on the subadult flat-headed and Tuva silver voles using arenas of two diameters of 50 and 63 cm. It was found that the diameter of the arena influenced features of movement in the test conditions. At the arena of larger diameter, individuals of both species had a higher speed of movement and passed a larger distance both in general and on the periphery. Also only at the larger arenas subadult flat-headed voles showed more mobility and probably were less anxious in the test conditions compared to Tuva silver voles. Hypotheses were proposed about the peculiarities of the ecology of these species reflected in their behavior.
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