Research into the hunting behavior in members of the Cricetidae family offers an opportunity to reveal what changes in the predatory behavioral sequences occur when a rodent species shifts from an omnivorous to a predatory lifestyle. The study tests the following hypotheses: are there phylogenetic differences in the divergence of species’ predatory lifestyles in hamsters or do ecological factors lead to shaping their hunting behavior? We applied the data compression approach for performing comparative analysis of hunting patterns as biological “texts.” The study presents a comparative analysis of hunting behaviors in five Cricetinae species, focusing on the new data obtained for the desert hamster Phodopus roborovskii whose behavior has never been studied before. The hunting behavior of P. roborovskii appeared to be the most variable one. In contrast, behavioral sequences in P. campbelli and Allocricetulus curtatus display more significant order and predictability of behavior during hunting. Optional hunting behavior in the most ancient species P. roborovskii displayed similarities with obligate patterns in “young” Allocricetulus species. It thus turned out to be the most advanced hunter among members of the Phodopus genus. Differences in hunting sequences among Phodopus representatives suggest that the hunting behavior of these species, despite its optional mode, was subject to selection during species splitting within the genus. These results did not reveal the role played by phylogenetic differences in the divergence of species’ predatory lifestyles. They suggested that ecological conditions are the main factors in speciation of the hunting behavior in hamsters.

中文翻译：

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使用数据压缩方法比较分析仓鼠选择性狩猎行为


对仓鼠科成员狩猎行为的研究提供了一个机会，揭示当啮齿动物从杂食性生活方式转变为掠食性生活方式时，掠食性行为序列会发生什么变化。该研究测试了以下假设：仓鼠物种捕食生活方式的差异是否存在系统发育差异，或者生态因素是否导致塑造它们的狩猎行为？我们应用数据压缩方法对作为生物“文本”的狩猎模式进行比较分析。该研究对五种仓鼠亚科物种的狩猎行为进行了比较分析，重点是从沙漠仓鼠Phodopus roborovskii获得的新数据，其行为以前从未被研究过。 P. roborovskii 的狩猎行为似乎是变化最大的一种。相比之下，P. Campbelli 和 Allocricetulus curtatus 的行为序列在狩猎过程中表现出更显着的行为顺序和可预测性。最古老的物种 P. roborovskii 的选择性狩猎行为与“年轻”Allocricetulus 物种的专性模式相似。因此，它被证明是毛足属成员中最先进的猎人。毛足动物代表之间狩猎序列的差异表明，这些物种的狩猎行为尽管其模式是可选的，但在属内物种分裂期间受到选择。这些结果并没有揭示系统发育差异在物种捕食生活方式差异中所发挥的作用。他们认为生态条件是仓鼠狩猎行为物种形成的主要因素。