Differences in ultrasonic vocalizations between wild and laboratory California mice (Peromyscus californicus).

ABSTRACT:

Background

Ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) emitted by muroid rodents, including laboratory mice and rats, are used as phenotypic markers in behavioral assays and biomedical research. Interpretation of these USVs depends on understanding the significance of USV production by rodents in the wild. However, there has never been a study of muroid rodent ultrasound function in the wild and comparisons of USVs produced by wild and laboratory rodents are lacking to date. Here, we report the first comparison of wild and captive rodent USVs recorded from the same species, Peromyscus californicus.

Methodology and principal findings

We used standard ultrasound recording techniques to measure USVs from California mice in the laboratory (Peromyscus Genetic Stock Center, SC, USA) and the w

SUBMITTER: Kalcounis-Rueppell MC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2848568 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature