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- Title
The burrow behavior and influenced factors of a prairie subterranean zokor (Myospalax psilurus).
- Authors
Fu, He‐Ping; Yuan, Shuai; Man, Du‐Hu; Chai, Xiang‐Xian; Yang, Su‐Wen; Bao, Dar‐Han; Wu, Xiao‐Dong
- Abstract
The Transbaikal zokor (Myospalax psilurus) is a dominant rodent distributed in the meadow steppe of Inner Mongolia in northern China. Due to long history of evolution in subterranean environment, the zokor has an adaptive behavior: sealing burrow entrances. When a burrow is damaged, exposed entrances appear, and within a relatively short time, the zokor would be active in sealing the entrances to reduce risks to its survival. In general, it is thought that zokors avoid light and wind, which is consistent with their behavior of sealing burrow entrances. However, direct evidence from field experimental research has been lacking. This study set up 68 field sampling points in a meadow steppe in Inner Mongolia from August to September, 2014 and used a wind–light isolator to study the effects of wind and light factors on zokor burrow entrance sealing behavior. The results showed that there were no significant correlations between wind or light factors and the frequency of zokor burrow entrance sealing. Therefore, wind and light factors are not direct factors associated with zokors actively sealing burrow entrances. The Transbaikal zokor (Myospalax psilurus) is a dominant rodent distributed in the meadow steppe of northern China. It is a major underground pest rodent without hibernation. The underground roots of grassland vegetation are mainly used for its food. From September to October of autumn, it stored a large amount of food for overwintering, and reproduced in May of the following year. The harm to grassland vegetation is very serious.
- Subjects
CHINA; ZOKORS; BIOLOGICAL evolution; VEGETATION dynamics; ANIMAL wintering
- Publication
Ecology & Evolution (20457758), 2018, Vol 8, Issue 24, p12773
- ISSN
2045-7758
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1002/ece3.4705