RESPONSES OF SMALL MAMMALS TO SCENT OF ANIMALS CONTACTED THE TRAPS BEFORE

Responses of the common shrew (Sorex araneus), masked shrew (S. caecutiens), pygmy shrew (S. minutus), dusky (S. isodon) shrew, and bank vole (Clethrionomys glareolus) to scent of other species were studied in nature (Tver oblast) taking into account their species belonging, sex and age. The research methodology was to compare (criterion chi(2), exact confidence interval for binomial distribution) the number of recipient individuals captured by traps with the scent of the previous animals contacting them and the number of animals that could be expected under the random distribution of captures. Responses of the animals to the scent unintentionally left by other individuals are regarded as the manifestations of mediated olfactory communications. Positive responses (the observed number of captures is greater than that of the expected one) absolutely prevails in intraspecific relations within all the species and sex-age groups. They also play a large part in the interspecific relations, and this is particularly noticeable as applied to yearlings of the red-toothed shrews. Responses of these animals to the bank vole's odor vary from neutral to negative. The pygmy shrews are shown to avoid the scent of other species. Seasonal changes of the responses to the odor of different species and sex-age groups are considered.