THE BEHAVIOR OF MIDDAY GERBILS MERIONES M ERIDIANUS UNDER SEMIFREE MAINTENANCE .1. THE SOCIAL-ORGANIZATION AND THE USE OF SPACE

The structure of the social interactions and the system of the use of space in the gerbils Meriones meridianus maintained in the enclosure o f 400 sq. m. are described. Two groups (6 and 9 adults, including both males and females) were studied. The interactions of agonistic domina nce are established between the males during the reproductive season a nd exist throughout quite long period. The asymmetry of diad relations hips in males is high, the average index of the asymmetry is 0,86 +/- 0,03 (n = 31). That results in the formation of nearly linear hierarch y. The dominant males differ from the subordinate ones by larger weigh t: Spearman's coefficient of rank correlation R' = 0,86, p < 0,01. The interactions between females are based on spatial exclusion. The aver age index of asymmetry of relationships in female dyads is lower than in males (0,75 +/- 0,08, n = 7). The role of spatial and social intera ctions is discussed in the connection with the reproductive strategy o f the species.