Danielle N. Lee University of Missouri - St. Louis Dissertation Title: Individual Differences in Exploratory Behavior of Prairie Voles The Microtus Shuffle is a dance interpretation of my dissertation which examines individual differences in exploratory behavior of prairie voles in unfamiliar or novel settings. Prairie voles are small field mice that live in grasslands and agriculture fields throughout much of the United States. Typical vole behavior includes self-grooming, running along tunnels and runways, and sniffing, scratching, and pawing at walls and other objects. Like other vole species they have brown fur, stocky bodies, and short tails. The scientific name - Microtus ochrogaster - translates as little ear orange belly. The dancing voles are wearing clothes that roughly represent the color of real prairie voles. Like my real vole subjects, the dancing voles are observed in an exploratory maze. I can look over onto the maze and see the subjects. I record their behavior in the maze, i.e. latency to enter the maze, which arms and dead-ends they visit, and number of times they visit each. The Dancing voles represent two subjects who are similar in a general way, but are noticeably 'different' in their behavior and reaction to the exploratory maze. The Microtus Shuffle includes aspects of their natural behavior, turning around, sniffing, scratching at walls, and self-grooming. The Scientist part of the dance shows me observing the animals from above, recording data, and dealing with the initial challenges of experimental design and live observation. In the end, everything works out and I celebrate my experimental success.

Short tailed vole in some distress. Found in the middle of the path near Birling gap, West Sussex, UK. From www.totally-cuckoo.com

While birdwatching I spotted this very young meadow vole. I don't know if its eyes were completely open and it appeared to be trembling. I watched it for a while, recorded it and then walked off and watched it from a distance hoping it would find cover. It didn't, so I scooped it up and put it into some thick grass so it wouldn't be out in the open. I checked back about 30 minutes later and it was not there.

Schilfwühlmäuse beim fressen

Meine Schilfwühlmäuse erkunden das Laufrad, das ich ihnen zur Probe in den Käfig gestellt habe. Mit so viel Andrang hatte ich dann doch nicht gerechnet... :)

Ich wusste gar nicht, dass Feldmäuse so winzig sind. Ein Paar mehr Informationen gibt es hier: http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feldmaus

A prairie vole feeding. Stock video footage from Pronghorn Productions.

Schilfwühlmaus

Meine Schilfwühler, diesmal mit ihrem typischen Gequakel (leider etwas verrauscht)

Schilfwühlmaus beim futtern

Meine Möhre....