RUI: Comparison of Mechanisms of Sociality in Solitary Rodents

关于邻居识别的信息是理解 在一个社会单位内发生的行为互动。 最 研究熟悉性在哺乳动物社会组织中的作用， 然而，已经在社会性哺乳动物身上做过了。 很少注意 虽然大多数哺乳动物都是独居的， 人的大部分生活。 兰德尔博士的研究将探讨熟悉度在 社会中的间隔、配偶选择和亲属识别 两种孤独的沙漠啮齿动物的组织： Bannertail（- Dipodomys spanabilis- ）和梅里亚姆的（- D.梅里亚米-) 袋鼠鼠 已知年龄、性别和关系的动物将被 配对在一个大的便携式外壳在外地，和他们的 将记录和比较相互作用。 兰德尔医生也会 用无线电发射器跟踪动物以确定它们的距离 交配前和交配期间的关系，并将继续详细 观察两个物种的交配行为 此外，一些 计划在实验室进行研究， 袋鼠鼠可以通过气味相互识别， 气味标记 从该项目中获得的信息应有助于促进 基本了解导致发展的步骤 在哺乳动物群落中进化出的社会性。

Information about neighbor recognition is basic to an understanding of the behavioral interactions that occur within a social unit. Most studies on the role of familiarity in mammalian social organizations, however, have been done on social mammals. Little attention has been given to solitary species, although most mammals live as solitary individuals during most of their lives. Dr. Randall's research will examine the role of familiarity in spacing, mate selection, and kin recognition in the social organization of two species of solitary, desert rodent: the bannertail (-Dipodomys spectabilis-) and Merriam's (-D. merriami-) kangaroo rat. Animals of known age, sex, and relationships will be paired in a large portable enclosure in the field, and their interactions will be documented and compared. Dr. Randall will also track animals with radio-transmitters to determine their spacing relationships before and during mating, and will continue detailed observations of both species' mating behavior. In addition, a number of studies in the laboratory are planned to examine whether the kangaroo rats could recognize each other from odors deposited during scent-marking. The information obtained from this project should help in promoting a basic understanding of the steps that lead to the development of sociality as it has evolved in mammalian communities.