Ontogeny of pup isolation-induced ultrasonic calls in a highly social rodent, the Harting’s vole (Microtus hartingi)

Abstract

We examined the ontogeny of pup ultrasonic isolation-induced calls (USVs) in a highly social Arvicolinae rodent species, the Harting’s vole (Microtus hartingi). We recorded, with two-days intervals, the USVs of 55 individual pups from 11 litters from 1 to 12 days of age and measured body mass and the linear body size variables of each subject. The number of pups producing USVs decreased from 100 % at 1–2 days of age to 11.5 % at 11–12 days of age. Call rate changed with age, with maximum at 3–4 d of age. It ranged from 121.8 to 94.2 USVs/min between 1–2 and 7–8 days of age, decreased to 36.4 USVs/min at 9–10 days of age and to 1.5 USVs/min at 11–12 days of age. Overall, pup USVs were becoming simpler in their contour shapes with increase of age. Pup age class significantly affected all acoustic variables for the exclusion of the start and maximum fundamental frequencies, which values did not display significant changes with age. Body mass negatively correlated with USV acoustic variables, for the exclusion of call rate. A high percent of USVs contained nonlinear phenomena. We discuss the differences and similarities of pup Harting’s vole USV ontogeny with other vole species and summarize the traits which make pup USVs of the Harting’ vole a convenient model for biomedical research.