关键词: 种内变异, 棕色田鼠, 性二型, 熟悉性选择, 情绪

Abstract: Abstract:Small mammals are likely to be able to accommodate to localized environmental shifts through the evolution of alternative behavioral strategies Intraspecific social systems may vary considerably among populations of a species as a result of changing environmental conditions.This study examined whether behavioral traits of socially monogamous mandarin voles (Microtus mandarinus),differed between two populations (Chengcun and Xinzheng)characterized by different environmental features,namely altitude and amount of precipitation.Body mass,anxiety,locomotor activity,and partner preference of the two populations were compared.Females in the Chengcun population were much heavier compared with males.However,Xinzheng males were significantly heavier than Chengcun males.Voles in the Chengcun population spent a significantly longer period of time in the central area of an open field compared with animals in the Xinzheng population,thereby demonstrating less anxiety in the Chengcun population.Results of a partner preference test show that the Xinzheng population displayed a strong preference for unfamiliar conspecifics of the opposite sex,while Chengcun males showed a significant preference for a familiar partner.In addition,Chengcun females stayed in the compartment of an unfamiliar vole for a significantly longer period of time relative to the time they spent in the compartment of familiar vole. However,Chengcun females attacked unfamiliar conspecifics more frequently and for a significantly longer period of time they than did the familiar partner.These data suggest that the two populations show significant differences in body weight,anxiety and partner preference due to geographical variation.

Key words: Anxiety, Geographical variation, Intraspecific variation, Mandarin voles(Microtus mandarinus), Partner