PDF(Pubmed)
Abstract：
Whether introduced into a completely novel habitat or slowly expanding their current range, the degree to which animals can efficiently explore and navigate new environments can be key to survival, ultimately determining population establishment and colonization success. We tested whether spatial orientation and exploratory behavior are associated with non-native spread in free-living bank voles (Myodes glareolus, N = 43) from a population accidentally introduced to Ireland a century ago. We measured spatial orientation and navigation in a radial arm maze, and behaviors associated to exploratory tendencies and risk-taking in repeated open-field tests, at the expansion edge and in the source population. Bank voles at the expansion edge re-visited unrewarded arms of the maze more, waited longer before leaving it, took longer to start exploring both the radial arm maze and the open field, and were more risk-averse compared to conspecifics in the source population. Taken together, results suggest that for this small mammal under heavy predation pressure, a careful and thorough exploration strategy might be favored when expanding into novel environments.
摘要：
无论是引入一个全新的栖息地，还是慢慢扩大目前的范围，动物能够有效探索和驾驭新环境的程度可能是生存的关键，最终决定人口的建立和殖民的成功。我们测试了自由生活的银行田鼠(Myodesglareolus，N=43）来自一个世纪前偶然引入爱尔兰的人口。我们在径向臂迷宫中测量了空间方向和导航，以及在重复的野外测试中与探索性倾向和冒险行为相关的行为，在扩张边缘和来源人口中。扩张边缘的银行田鼠更多地重新审视了迷宫中没有得到回报的手臂，等了很久才离开它,花了更长的时间开始探索radial臂迷宫和开放领域，与来源人群中的特定物种相比，风险厌恶程度更高。一起来看,结果表明，对于这种处于重捕食压力下的小型哺乳动物，当扩展到新环境时，谨慎而彻底的探索策略可能会受到青睐。
