Li Dianwei, Hao Jingwei, Yao Xu, Liu Yang, Peng Ting, Jin Zhimin, Meng Fanxing
College of Life Sciences and Technology, Mudanjiang Normal University, No. 191 Wenhua Road, Mudanjiang, Heilongjiang 157011, China Mudanjiang Normal University Mudanjiang China.
Heilongjiang Academy of Forestry, No. 134 Haping Road, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150081, China Heilongjiang Academy of Forestry Harbin China.
Zookeys. 2020 Nov 12;992:139-155. doi: 10.3897/zookeys.992.57028. eCollection 2020.
, a dominant rodent species in temperature forests of northeastern China, is a model animal to explore the ecological functions of reciprocal coevolution of animals and plants. From August to October 2016, 24 infra-red cameras were installed to study the feeding behavior and activity patterns of in its natural environment. By analyzing 5618 video records, we found that feeding behavior, followed by motor and sentinel behaviors, was their main activity. In the behavior spectra, motor behavior (creep, walk, and skip), feeding behavior (forage, feeding, transport, hoarding, and clean), and sentinel behavior (alert, flee, banishment, and coexistence) accounted for 57.96%, 40.36%, and 1.68% of their behavior, respectively. The peak of feeding behavior occurred between 18:00 and 23:00, and feeding behavior frequency, duration, and activity rhythms differ among August to October. Furthermore, activity was the greatest after sunset and before sunrise, indicating a nocturnal lifestyle; however, from August to October, the start time of the activity was earlier, and the end time was later than usual. On average, mice spent 21.6 ± 11.6 times/night feeding, with a duration of 63.58 ± 98.36 s; while they spent less time in foraging, 39.05 ± 51.63 s. We found a significant difference in feeding and foraging frequency, with mice spending on average 10.84 ± 9.85 times/night and 9.23 ± 11.17 times/night, respectively. Our results show that feeding and foraging behavior is also influenced by light intensity, suggesting a preference for crepuscular periods of the day. Infra-red cameras are very useful in detecting activity patterns of animals that are not easily observable; these cameras are able to capture a large amount of valuable information for research into ecological functions.
作为中国东北温带森林中的优势啮齿动物物种，是探索动植物互惠协同进化生态功能的模式动物。2016年8月至10月，安装了24台红外摄像机，以研究其在自然环境中的取食行为和活动模式。通过分析5618条视频记录，我们发现取食行为是它们的主要活动，其次是运动和警戒行为。在行为谱中，运动行为（爬行、行走和跳跃）、取食行为（觅食、进食、搬运、贮藏和清理）和警戒行为（警戒、逃跑、驱逐和共存）分别占其行为的57.96%、40.36%和1.68%。取食行为的高峰出现在18:00至23:00之间，8月至10月间取食行为的频率、持续时间和活动节律有所不同。此外，活动在日落后和日出前最为频繁，表明其为夜行性动物；然而，8月至10月间，活动开始时间比平时更早，结束时间比平时更晚。平均而言，小鼠每晚花费21.6±11.6次进食，持续时间为63.58±98.36秒；而它们觅食的时间较少，为39.05±51.63秒。我们发现进食和觅食频率存在显著差异，小鼠平均每晚分别花费10.84±9.85次和9.23±11.17次。我们的结果表明，进食和觅食行为也受光照强度影响，表明其偏好一天中的晨昏时段。红外摄像机在检测不易观察到的动物活动模式方面非常有用；这些摄像机能够捕捉大量有价值的信息，用于生态功能研究。
