Resource location and structural properties of the nestbox as determinants of nest-site selection in the golden hamster

Abstract

Nest-site selection, an ecologically relevant behavior, was studied in the golden hamster in a model environment where the animals could choose between nestboxes differing in distance from resource or in structural features (size and illumination), Experiment 1 showed that hamsters can decrease foraging costs by setting their nests in the nestbox nearest to the food and/or riestmaterial sources, and that hoarding costs, as distinct from simple procurement costs, are taken into account in the choice process. Preferences for darker and larger nestboxes were obtained in Experiment 2. Experiment 3 revealed an internally coherent hierarchical pattern in preferences, with illumination being more important than size and resource distance, and size more important than resource distance. The results suggest that nest-site selection and foraging behaviors are parts of an integrated causal system.

The cavity-dwelling ant Leptothorax curvispinosus uses nest geometry to discriminate between potential homes

“…Christian 1980;Wilson 1998;Clark & Shutler 1999). Less common are experimental analyses of proximate cues affecting an animal's choice (Partridge 1974;Seeley & Morse 1978;Buhot-Averseng 1981;Duncan & Kite 1989;Ottoni & Ades 1991). Without such studies, the association of a particular environmental feature with the presence of nests does not necessarily imply a direct influence on behaviour.…”

Foraging behavior of golden hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) in the wild

“…When given an option between otherwise similar home burrows, they choose the one closer to the source of bedding and food (Ottoni and Ades 1991). Unfortunately, thick vegetation prevented us from accurately gauging the total distance traveled on most foraging trips.…”

Effects of bedding material and running wheel surface on paw wounds in male and female Syrian hamsters

“…According to the Canadian Council on Animal Care, 1 a total of 6204 hamsters were used for research purposes in 2005 in Canada, making them the fourth most popular laboratory rodent after mice, rats and guineapigs. Among the aspects of hamster welfare that have been studied so far are social housing, 2 nest boxes, 3 cage floor preference, 4,5 cage dimension, 6,7 environmental enrichment, 8 running wheels, 9 -11 and bedding material. 12,13 Kuhnen 14 and Sørensen et al 15 provide reviews of housing requirements for hamsters, and Gattermann et al 16 gives information on the poorly known ecology of this species in the wild.…”