Territorial Structure and Social Organization of Two Subspecies of the Midday Gerbil (Meriones meridianus nogaiorum, M. m. psammophilus) (Muridae, Mammalia) under Seminatural Conditions

Abstract

Abstract—The territorial structure and social organization of artificial groups of two subspecies of the midday gerbil (Meriones meridianus nogaiorum, M. m. psammophilus) were studied under seminatural conditions. No significant differences in the space use system of these subspecies were found. The structure of social interactions was identical in females but different in males: M. m. nogaiorum males exhibited a dominance hierarchy, while a despotic dominance was found in M. m. psammophilus males. M. m. psammophilus females also exhibited dominance hierarchy in enclosures, in addition, avoiding same-sex conspecifics seems to be a typical behavioral strategy of M. m. psammophilus. These findings support our suggestion that Tuvan–Mongolian M. m. psammophilus populations should be treated as a distinct species.