A comparative analysis of behavior in Mongolian gerbils (Merionesunguiculatus) in captivity and nature [Russian]

摘要

The time budget, use of space, social and scent-marking behavior of Mongolian gerbils in nature, in laboratory, and in seminatural conditions were studied. The structure of relationships between gerbils living in family groups in cages of 1 sq. m, enclosures of 200 and 300 sq. m and in nature is similar. The time budget of gerbils kept in large enclosures differed from that of gerbils in natural populations in two respects. In enclosures, gerbils took less time for foraging and more frequently interacted with conspecies. Other differences between behavior of gerbils living in large enclosures of 400 sq. m and in nature were not found. It gerbils kept in laboratory cages a very low scent-marking activity was observed. The main factor affecting the gerbils' behavior in captivity is lack of space.