Dynamic changes in home-ranges of the subterranean rodent: a case study on Myospalax baileyi

Abstract

BackgroundSubterranean rodents, as ecosystem engineers, excavate and inhabit burrow systems. Their underground space-use mobility is poorly recorded. There is conflicting evidence regarding that burrow system of subterranean rodents, once established, are relatively stable because of high-energy costs of digging. For monitoring data at different stages of a year’s life cycle. We predict that mating and habitat characteristics might influence home-range size and locomotion.MethodsThe present study implemented successive radio-tracking in order to quantify the locomotion and overlap of the plateau zokor (Myospalax baileyi) home-range throughout the year. Home-ranges were calculated according to the 100% minimum convex polygon (MCP) methods. We also examined the relationships of home-range sizes with body mass, vegetation biomass, and soil compaction, respectively.ResultsWe found that sizes of home-ranges varied monthly for both male and female, except for the long winter (from November to March of the following year) challenging to excavate with activity ranges of all individuals concentrated on their own nests. During the mating season, the average size of males’ home-ranges is 3.4 times larger than females’ home-ranges. Males likely expanded the burrows to overlap with multiple females and to enhance their chances of mating. However, there was no overlap between estrus females or males, perhaps by reducing encounters and unnecessary fights. Home-ranges between males and females showed similar in size after courtship ends one month, and interestingly, single zokor’s home-range overlapped with the home-ranges of several neighbors. Most individuals remained territorial and excluded intraspecific from their home-ranges. Besides, the position of the females was stable throughout the year, while half of the males shifted nests and established completely new home-ranges in the non-breeding season, mainly in October. ConclusionsWe conclude that space use of M. baileyi is flexible in response to meet physical contact and food resource. Regarding locomotion of home-range, subterranean plateau zokors to affirm that their home-ranges are dynamics and males shift in space with one breeding cycle.