Silvery mole-rats ( Heliophobius argenteocinereus, Bathyergidae) change their burrow architecture seasonally
Jazyk angličtina Země Německo Médium print-electronic
Typ dokumentu časopisecké články, práce podpořená grantem
- MeSH
- bydlení zvířat MeSH
- komunikace zvířat MeSH
- mikroftalmičtí podzemní hlodavci fyziologie MeSH
- roční období MeSH
- sociální chování * MeSH
- životní prostředí * MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Malawi MeSH
Little is known about seasonal changes in burrowing activity and burrow architecture in subterranean African mole-rats (Bathyergidae, Rodentia). The solitary genus Heliophobius is the least known genus of this family. We examined burrow systems of the silvery mole-rat (Heliophobius argenteocinereus) in Malawi in two periods of the dry season. Burrow pattern was influenced by the time of the year, becoming more reticulated at the peak of the dry season when soil was dry and hard. Overall digging activity did not cease during the dry season; yet burrowing strategy changed and the soil was deposited in tunnels rather than transported to mounds. The length of burrow systems was correlated with the body mass of the respective occupants. In spite of their solitary habits--and contrary to the prediction of the aridity food-distribution hypothesis--silvery mole-rats are able to occupy poor habitats with low food supply.
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