KINSHIP AND FAMILIARITY AS FACTORS AFFECTING SOCIAL TRANSFER OF FOOD PREFERENCES IN ADULT MONGOLIAN GERBILS (MERIONES-UNGUICULATUS)

Experiments were carried out with Mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguicul atus) to assess whether a socially mediated acquisition of diet select ion exists in this species. Results showed that a gerbil was influence d in its diet choices by information extracted during a brief period o f interaction with a familiar conspecific that had recently eaten a no vel food. Data revealed that the acquisition of a food preference from a conspecific depends on the existence of a social bond between the i nteracting gerbils. Either genetic relatedness (being brother or siste r raised in different litters) or familiarity (being bred in the same litter or being member of a reproductive pair) is necessary for the tr ansfer of information. Unfamiliar and unrelated observer gerbils did n ot selectively choose their demonstrator's food.