Rodent Ethology

• wild rats and domesticated rats have similar behaviors
• rats are used in laboratory because we sequenced the full genome
• wild rats burrow less and are more fearful of new things
• wild rats can learn more slowly than domesticated rats
• wild rats are more aggressive towards other rats
• wild rats live in social groups
• how do new rat social groups start?

  male and female nesting in new area
• brown rat packs are led by the largest male
• wild rats are nocturnal, low-ranking rats have to forage during the day
• rats are omnivores
• some rat breeds prefer seeds and fruits
• brown rats primarily scavenge for human food
• rats have large litters and short gestation time
• rats are type 3 survivorship curve
• rodenticide was developed to protect grains, now used in homes
• some rats have developed resistance to first-generation anticoagulants
• first-generation anticoagulants are treated with vitamin k
• new categories of rodenticides (non-anticoagulants) have to be treated in 1-2 hours of ingestion
• zinc phosphide baits convert into neurotoxins
• rodenticides can last up to 3 years in the environment
• rodents are omnivores
• wild rat behaviors:

  • less social
  • more aggressive
  • fearful of new things, burrow less
• brown rat social hierarchy: led by largest male