The Comparison of Behavioral Convergences among the Mammalian Orders: Carnivora and Rodentia' Bethan

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The Comparison of Behavioral Convergences among
the Mammalian Orders Carnivora and
Rodentia.Bethany WestrickBiology
DepartmentBellarmine University
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Introduction

• Purpose of research was to determine behavioral
  and evolutionary convergences among mammalian
  orders
• Three species examined
• Carnivora Meerkats (Suricata suricata)
• Rodentia Degus (Octodon degus)
• Gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus)

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Taxonomy
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Meerkats (Suricata suricata)

• Habitat deserts of South Africa
• Complex social behaviors are a study of interest
• Fall prey to eagles species and jackals
• Live in tunnels and burrows with assigned duties
  to individuals

Photo courtesy of Dr. Tietjen
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Degus (Octodon degus)

• Habitat Chile coastal areas, mountainous
  regions, usually in thick underbrush and hedges
• Live in social communities and are capable of
  building extensive tunnels
• Communication exists in community

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Gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus)

• Habitat open, dry areas
• Social animals and are capable of building
  complex tunnels
• Communication exists in community

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Materials Methods

• Video analysis of each animal
• Film digitized for computer
• Analyzed using various programs
• Used data to create ethograms, graphs, time-line
  analysis and Chi-square analysis

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Results

• Ethograms-charts that show behavior frequency and
  transition frequency between behaviors
• Graphs showing frequency of behaviors
• Time-line analysis shows the behaviors over time
• Chi-square analysis tells if a significant
  difference exists in the behaviors of the three
  animals

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Meerkat Ethogram
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Frequency of Behaviors Observed in Meerkats
Frequency
Behavior
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Degu Ethogram
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Frequency of Behaviors Observed in Degus
Frequency
Behavior
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Gerbil Ethogram
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Frequency of Behaviors Observed in Gerbils
Frequency
Behavior
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Chi-square Analysis
Table 1 Chi-square analysis among the percentage
of behaviors seen in the meerkats, degus, and
gerbils, (MMeerkats, DDegus, and GGerbils).
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Chi-square Analysis
Table 1 Chi-squared analysis among the
percentage of behaviors seen in the meerkats,
degus, and gerbils, (MMeerkats, DDegus, and
GGerbils).
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Taxonomy
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Comparison of Ethograms
Meerkats
Degus
Gerbils
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Research Part II Results

• Only the behaviors emphasizing social
  interactions were analyzed
• The behaviors of the entire group were observed
  instead of just one individual at a time
• This was determine if the social nature of the
  animals could be observed in the behaviors

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Meerkat Social Ethogram
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Social Behaviors Observed in Meerkats
Frequency
Behavior
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Degu Social Ethogram
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Social Behaviors Observed in Degus
Frequency
Behavior
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Discussion

• Behavioral convergences are seen within the
  mammalian orders
• Certain physiological traits can be linked to
  behaviors
• This defines an evolutionary convergence exists
  among the mammalian
• orders
• The more similar the
• lifestyle, the more similar
• the behavior

Photo courtesy of Dr. Tietjen
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Part II Discussion

• Based on the results obtained in Part II of the
  research, social organization exists
• When analyzing the group, behaviors such as
  imitating or mimicking one another were observed
• Greeting and nuzzling of one another when
  entering/leaving the group
• Signs that the animals recognize and acknowledge
  members of the group

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Acknowledgements

• I would like to thank Dr. Bill Tietjen for all
  his help and insight for this project.

Photo courtesy of Dr. Tietjen
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References
Cloyd, E. 2003. "Octodon degus" (On-line), Animal
Diversity Web. Accessed November 21, 2005 at
http//animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/account
s/information/Octodon_degus.html Clutton-Brock,
T.H., COOPERATION, CONTROL, AND CONCESSION IN
MEERKAT GROUPS, By Science, 00368075,
01/19/2001, Vol. 291, Issue 5503 Database
Academic Search Premier Fitzpatrick, K.
Meerkats (On-line). Accessed November 21, 2005
at http//www.bio.davidson.edu/people/vecase/Behav
ior/Spring2004/fitzpatrick/fitzpatrick.htm Poor,
A. 2005. "Gerbillinae" (On-line), Animal
Diversity Web. Accessed November 21, 2005 at
http//animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/account
s/information/Gerbillinae.html Tietjen, W. J.
Spider Lab (On-Line). Accessed Novemer 20, 2005
at http//cas.bellarmine.edu/tietjen/
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Any Questions?
Photo courtesy of Dr. Tietjen