Sensory abilities in food localization in four species of African mole-rats with diverse social organization

Bc. Miloš VITÁMVÁS

Master's thesis

Sensory abilities and food localization in four species of African mole-rats with diverse social organization

Abstract:

Until recently, it was assumed that African mole-rats search for food randomly, as it is in concordance with Aridity food distribution hypothesis. However, recent studies indicate that some subterranean rodent species including mole-rats could be able to use plant chemicals (kairomones) for food localization. In my master thesis I conducted a battery of experiments on four mole-rat species to prove, that these species also posses the ability of kairomone guided foraging independently of their social organization.

Abstract:

Until recently, it was assumed that African mole-rats search for food randomly, as it is in concordance with Aridity food distribution hypothesis. However, recent studies indicate that some subterranean rodent species including mole-rats could be able to use plant chemicals (kairomones) for food localization. In my master thesis I conducted a battery of experiments on four mole-rat species to prove, that these species also posses the ability of kairomone guided foraging independently of their social organization.

Keywords

mole-rat, Bathyergidae, subterranean rodent, foraging, kairomone, food localization

Language used: English

Date on which the thesis was submitted / produced: 26. 4. 2013

Accessible from:: 31. 12. 2999

Thesis defence

• Date of defence: 29. 5. 2013
• Supervisor: doc. Mgr. Radim Šumbera, Ph.D.

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH BOHEMIA IN ČESKÉ BUDĚJOVICE

Faculty of Science

Master programme / field:
Zoology / Zoology