Seasonal variation in attention and spatial performance in a wild population of the African striped mouse (Rhabdomys pumilio)
Résumé
Cognitive flexibility describes the reversible
changes of cognition in response to environmental changes.
Although various environmental factors such as temperature,
photoperiod and rainfall change seasonally, seasonal
variation in cognitive performance has been reported in
merely a few birds and mammals. We assessed whether
cognitive performance in a wild population of African
striped mice Rhabdomys pumilio, from the Succulent
Karoo semidesert of South Africa, differed between summer
and winter. In order to measure cognitive performance,
striped mice were trapped in the field, tested under laboratory
conditions at our research station and returned to the
field within 5 h. We measured attention and spatial memory
using the standardized orientation response test and the
Barnes maze test. Males tested during summer oriented
faster toward a predator-stimulus but made more errors and
took longer to locate a shelter than males tested during
winter. In contrast, females’ performance did not differ
between the two seasons. We discuss how the faster orientation
in males during winter might be the consequence
of lower temperatures and/or prolonged food restriction.
We suggest that the enhancement of spatial performance
during winter might be due to a greater motivation for
future dispersal in male striped mice, as spring represents
the breeding season.
Origine : Fichiers produits par l'(les) auteur(s)
Loading...