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Contemporary Problems of Ecology

2019 year, number 1

Social Structure and Vocal Behaviour of Shikatan Voles (Myodes sikotanensis) in Experiment

M. V. RUTOVSKAYA
A. N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution, 119071, Moscow, Leninskiy ave., 33
Keywords: social behavior, acoustic behavior, rodents, bank voles, Shikotan voles, социальное поведение, акустическое поведение, грызуны, лесные полевки, шикотанская полевка

Abstract

The intraspecific relationships between individuals in experimental conditions of two populations of Shikotan vole Myodes sikotanensis from Sakhalin and Shikotan islands were described. We studied the interactions and acoustic activity of voles in groups consisting of 4 males and 2 females. We observed in groups of both populations aggressive and friendly behavior. However, voles from the Shikotan Island were more active and showed more friendly behavior, which is characteristic of the grey voles. Voles from the Sakhalin Island population had mainly aggressive interactions and among them hierarchical relations of domination-subordination were formed which is characteristic of the bank voles. The alarm sound was represented mainly by the squeaks emitted by the voles in the home protection, or in other interactions by the individual experienced discomfort. Acoustic signals do not play an essential role in the formation of relationships in the groups of Shikotan voles.