RUI: Communication and Predator Defense by Ground- Transmitted Vibrations

RUI：通过地面传输振动进行通信和捕食者防御

• 批准号: 8908827
• 负责人: Janet Randall
• 金额: $ 9.85万
• 依托单位: San Francisco State University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 1989
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 1989-07-01 至 1991-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=8908827&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: RUI; Communication; Predator; Defense; Ground

This research examines the mechanisms and functions of a unique form of communication, never before studied in detail. Dr. Randall is investigating how a nocturnal desert rodent, the banner-tailed kangaroo rat, communicates its identity to other kangaroo rats and protects itself from predators by drumming its hind feet on the ground, creating vibrations that are transmitted both through the ground and through the air. She and her students will (1) describe the basic patterns in the foot- drumming signal and how these identify individual animals, (2) study how the signal is transmitted through the desert soil and air, (3) describe the changes in behavior of rats in response to a foot-drumming signal, (4) study foot-drumming as a defense against snake predators, and (5) analyze differences in the signals produced in relation to the age and health of individual rats, to differences in the number of neighbors' signals, and in contexts of territorial defense, predator defense, and mating competition. This research will enrich our general understanding of how communication is related to the social organization of small, nocturnal mammals. It will contribute to knowledge of how small animals defend themselves against their predators, and of how animal social organizations have adapted to a desert environment. An understanding of the interactions that occur in the web of life in a desert will be valuable in management and conservation decisions about the fragile desert ecosystems of the southwestern United States.

这项研究研究了独特的交流形式的机制和功能，从未详细研究过。 兰德尔（Randall）博士正在调查夜间沙漠啮齿动物（横幅尾袋鼠老鼠）如何通过在地面上敲打其后脚，从而通过地面和空气传播振动来将其身份传达给其他袋鼠大鼠，并保护自己免受捕食者的侵害。 她和她的学生将（1）描述脚鼓信号中的基本模式以及它们如何识别单个动物，（2）研究信号是如何通过沙漠土壤和空气传播的信号，（3）描述了大鼠行为的变化，以响应脚踏板的信号，（4）研究脚踏实地，以对抗蛇的捕食者和（5）分析的差异，（5）较大的差异，（5）邻居的信号数量，以及领土防御，捕食者防御和交配竞争的情况。 这项研究将使我们对沟通如何与小型夜间哺乳动物的社会组织有关。 它将有助于了解小动物如何为自己的捕食者辩护，以及动物社会组织如何适应沙漠环境。 对沙漠中生命网络中发生的互动的理解将在美国西南部脆弱的沙漠生态系统的管理和保护决策中很有价值。