Levels of social tolerance between snow voles Chionomys nivalis during over-wintering periods

• Autorzy: Luque-Larena J. J. , Lopez P. , Gosalbez J.
• Języki publikacji: EN

Abstrakty

EN

We examined winter social behaviour of the snow vole Chionomys nivalis Martins, 1842, a rock-dwelling microtine found principally in high-mountain biotopes. We conducted dyadic encounters among wild-caught C. nivalis to determine patterns of intraspecific tolerance and the degree of aggressiveness between and within sexes during wintering periods. Our data show a high frequency of agonistic behaviours in all social encounters. Male pairs spent less time being aggressive than female pairs but more time in investigative behaviours. In contrast, the intensity of aggression displayed during interactions was significantly higher in male-male encounters than in female­-female encounters, with an intermediate level of aggression in male-female encounters. The low degree of social tolerance found seems to be in agreement with the available data on the social organization of this species and further suggests that individuals may not spatially associate during over-wintering periods. Although both males and females were socially intolerant, the different patterns observed between the sexes may underlie different strategies.

Słowa kluczowe

EN

social tolerance; Chionomys nivalis; social behaviour; overwintering period; snow vole

• Wydawca: -
• Czasopismo: Acta Theriologica
• Rocznik: 2002
• Tom: 47
• Numer: 2
• Opis fizyczny: p.163-173,fig.,ref.

Twórcy

autor

Luque-Larena J. J.

• Universitat de Barcelona, Avda. Diagonal 645, 08028 Barcelona, Spain

autor

Lopez P.

autor

Gosalbez J.

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