Social Isolation Does Not Alter Exploratory Behaviour, Spatial Learning and Memory in Captive Damaraland Mole-Rats (Fukomys damarensis).

ABSTRACT: Exploratory behaviour, spatial learning and memory affect the survival of animals and appear to be dependent on the specific habitat that a species occupies. Good spatial navigation and memory are particularly important for subterranean animals, as it is energetically expensive to inhabit this niche. Damaraland mole-rats are subterranean mammals that live in colonies with organised social structures. Damaraland mole-rats have been maintained in the laboratory for many years and can be housed in groups or individually. We evaluated the effect of social isolation on the exploratory behaviour and spatial memory of single-housed and colony-housed animals and also considered potential differences in animals with different social statuses. We predicted that solitary housing would increase anxiet

SUBMITTER: Blecher AS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9913580 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature