Laterality in the Upper Galilee Mountains blind mole rat Nannospalax galili

Maja Rendulić

Diplomová práce

Abstract:

Lateralization is the differential use of one side of the body, occurring as a result of asymmetries in the brain. Environmental factors, as well as various aspects of animals’ biology, ecology and behaviour can have an effect on laterality, such as sociality, predation risk, sex, personality, genetics, hormones, stress and captivity, which can be detected through turning biases. In the current study, individual and population-level laterality is examined in the Upper Galilee Mountains blind mole rat Nannospalax galili, a species presumed to be undergoing ecological speciation with the diverging populations inhabiting abutting rendzina and basaltic soil. Animals’ turning biases were evaluated either in a Y- or a T-maze, and their reaction time was measured, i.e. the time necessary to make the choice. Individual laterality was evaluated, and comparisons were made between groups based on various characteristics (e.g. sex, captivity, locality, soil type of origin). A significant right-side preference was detected in all the individuals together. The wild-caught group showed an overall stronger lateralization bias regardless of the side, which may be due to an effect of captivity. The basaltic-soil mole rats showed a right-side preference while rendzina ones showed no preference. Reaction time was significantly higher in basaltic-soil animals, which may reflect their vigilance and caution due to living under higher population densities. These results provide further insight into the distinctions between the basaltic and rendzina-soil blind mole rats.

Keywords

Basaltic and rendzina soil, Behavioural asymmetry, Ecological speciation, laterality, Nannospalax galili, Subterranean rodent, Turning biases

Jazyk práce: angličtina

Datum vytvoření / odevzdání či podání práce: 20. 8. 2023

Obhajoba závěrečné práce

• Vedoucí: doc. Francisco Ceacero Herrador, Ph.D.
• Oponent: Marietjie Oosthuizen, externi

Česká zemědělská univerzita v Praze

Fakulta tropického zemědělství

Magisterský studijní program / specializace:
Wildlife and Livestock Production, Management and Conservation / Wildlife Management and Conservation