The role of ultrasonic vocalizations in the formation of rat groups in a semi-natural environment

Abstract

This study investigated if ultrasonic vocalizations (USV) had an effect on the formation of groups of rats in a semi-natural setting that allowed the rats to live closer to their natural state in the wild. This was done by letting four groups of rats into a semi-natural environment. Where prior to release into the environment, all the rats received surgery. Where some of the rats had the nerve to the laryngeal nerve cut, making them unable to vocalize the USVs, making them devocalized. With the effect that several behaviors differed between the rats that could vocalize, most prominently changed was the amount of food that was transported into the burrow, where the rats that could vocalize did not transport much food. There was also an effect that the rats that was devocalized ran more than the rats that could vocalize. The rats that could vocalize did though flee more, but not from the devocalized rats. This and effects in each of the combined observations will be discussed.