Communication at the Garden Fence – Context Dependent Vocalization in Female House Mice

摘要: House mice (Mus musculus) live in social groups where they frequently interact with conspecifics, thus communication (e.g. chemical and/or auditory) is essential. It commonly known that male and female produce complex vocalizations the ultrasonic range (USV) remind of high-pitched birdsong (so called mouse song) which mainly used interactions. Earlier studies suggest use their USVs for mate attraction choice, but could also be as signal during hierarchy establishment familiarization, or other purposes. In this study we elucidated vocalization behaviour interacting over an extended period time under semi-natural conditions. We asked, if rate structure differs between different non-social contexts. found USV contexts, driven by direct to unknown individual, decreased a familiarization process. addition show two distinct types USVs, differing frequency, differently depending on whether directly indirectly communicate another female. This supports notion context dependent, reasonable yet underestimated amount complexity involves interplay sensory signals, like auditory cues.