麻豆淫院

Mice often communicate in ultrasound, which is so high-pitched that it's beyond human hearing. Because these sounds don't travel very far, it was thought that they were only used for private, close-up conversations. New research on wild African striped mice (Rhabdomys pumilio) reveals a clever way these rodents use their "private" calls for "public" messages, extending the reach of short-range signals. They do this by switching to a specific type of call when they are at the borders of their territories.

To understand how these mice communicate, L茅o Perrier at the University of Saint-Etienne in France and colleagues tagged and tracked four groups of striped mice in South Africa. They placed 23 special audio recorders in three different locations: near their nests, in the middle of a territory and at the borders of their territory where various groups of mice meet. Over a period of 12 days, they recorded thousands of ultrasound calls.

Eavesdropping on mice conversations

The research team analyzed the recorded calls using a type of artificial intelligence called a neural network. This program found the calls contain unique "signatures" that are specific to each mouse family.

When the scientists played back these types of calls, they noted how the mice responded differently. Calls from strangers provoked a strong negative reaction, such as retreating to their nest. In contrast, calls from neighbors elicited a milder reaction, while calls from their own group did not affect their behavior.

In their study, in the journal Current Biology, the scientists also demonstrated that mice adjust their calls according to their location. At their nests, they use a variety of calls, but at the edges of their territory (where they might encounter a predator), they switch to a different and specific type of call. It is still an ultrasonic vocalization, but by making it at the border, its purpose changes from a private chat to a public announcement that may reach neighboring groups.

"By vocalizing from key locations at the boundaries of their territory, the mice effectively broaden the reach of their signals to neighboring individuals. This strategy compensates for the limited active range of their signals and extends the sender's communication network," wrote the scientists.

The research is a remarkable insight into animal communication and its complexity. Mice use sophisticated methods to talk to each other and adapt their communication to fit their environment. Much like humans, they can balance private conversations with communicating publicly.

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