| Abstract: | Agonistic interaction may play a large role in shaping the social structure and spatial distribution of rodents such as Clethrionomys glareolus. Aggressive and non-aggressive behaviors of adult bank vole females were investigated with a home cage test during 10 min sessions. The number of attacks was significantly higher in virgin females kept with intact adult males than in singly reared females or those exposed to male urine. Bulbectomy of the tested females completely inhibited the male stimulating effect. This indicates that males influence the behavior of females by activating their olfactory systems. Aggressive behavior in pregnant or lactating females, which is linked to maternal behavior, was also tested. Female bank voles between 11 and 17 days of pregnancy or lactating at 3–4 days or 9–10 days attacked their partners significantly more frequently than virgins did. Females that had direct contact with males, even if they were not fertilized, appeared to be more successful in same-sex competition. Aggr. Behav. 24:53–61, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc. |
