ISSN:
1573-3297
Keywords:
burrowing
;
wild mice
;
geographic populations
;
heritability
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
,
Psychology
Notes:
Abstract Burrowing behavior was assessed on 120 lab-reared house mice (Mus domesticus) derived from five geographic populations representing a north-south cline along the east coast of the United States. Mice were placed individually into Plexiglas containers filled with sand and peat moss, and their burrows were excavated 24 h later. Seven measures were taken and reduced by principal-components analysis to two factors for further analysis. Marked differences existed within, but not between populations, and members of full-sib families built qualitatively and quantitatively similar burrows. The lack of a geographic cline and the apparent high heritability of burrowing behavior do not lend support to its use as a major thermoregulatory adaptation.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF01066170
Permalink
