HOME BEDDING MODIFIES ULTRASONIC VOCALIZATION OF INFANT BANK VOLES

Bank vole, Clethrionomys glareolus, pups, similar to many other infant rodents, emit ultrasonic vocalizations when they are removed from the nest and cooled. Infants exposed to bedding from their home cage prod uced fewer and shorter calls than infants tested without bedding. Soun d frequencies were significantly higher in infants exposed to home bed ding than in other experimental groups. These results provide evidence that infant bank voles are able to identify the presence of home bedd ing, probably on the basis of odor. This appears to be the first repor t of shifts in frequency of pup ultrasonic calls in response to olfact ory cues.