Neuroendocrine Control of Population Size in Rodents with Special Emphasis on the Mongolian Gerbil

摘要: Only rodents will be considered in this paper, although most premises also apply to other mammals. In order for a species survive, two major drives must exist its members: (1) drive survival of the individual and (2) propagation species. Personal requires maintenance activities such as eating drinking, well taking precautions against being destroyed by predators or unfavourable environmental conditions. At first glance these seem operate within an which presumably takes appropriate action alleviate unpleasant internal stimuli hunger thirst, external heat cold. Indeed studies physiological mechanisms regulate homeostatic behaviours have concentrated on stimulus-response sequence individual. On second thought it becomes obvious that social factors are involved. Young animals learn foods edible, where how they can obtained, may recognized avoided. As adults, individuals cooperate hunting, foraging, warning danger, alternately, compete food either directly indirectly through competition territory position hierarchy.