臺灣高山田鼠超音波溝通之地理變異與生態功能

The aims of this research are: 1) to survey inter- and intra-population variations in ultrasonic calls by the Taiwan vole; 2) to confirm the functions of ultrasonic isolation calls by the pups of the Taiwan vole; and 3) to test the ecological factors influencing ultrasonic isolation calls of the Taiwan vole. Rodent vocalizations have wide biomedical and eco-evolutionary implications. This is why vocalizations in mice and rats have been extensively studied, and the genetic and neural mechanisms of their vocalizations are being applied to explain speech and psychological development in human specifically and in mammals in general. However, laboratory mice and rats have their limits due to long-term inbreeding and adaptation to artificial environment. Therefore, vocalizations in wild rodents offer great opportunities for understanding proximate and ultimate mechanisms underlying mammalian vocalizations. Taiwan has several endemic rodent species including the Taiwan vole. Yet no systematic studies have been done on their vocalizations. This project can contribute to rodent vocalization research by adding new information on a wild species, and provide the data needed to evaluate whether the Taiwan vole could be used in similar biomedical and eco-evolutionary studies for Taiwan-based research teams.