Comparison of Neighbor Recognition in Two Species of Deer Mice (Peromyscus)

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Abstract
Conspecific pairs of neighbors and strangers of Peromyscus leucopus noveboracensis and P. maniculatus ozarkiarum were removed from wild populations and tested in 12 min encounters in a laboratory arena. There were marked differences between neighbor and stranger interactions of the two species. P. leucopus neighbors appeared to recognize each other quickly. They often exhibited submission, indicating a prior dominance relationship had been established in the field. Neighbors were less aggressive, avoided less and investigated each other more than did strangers. P. maniculatus neighbors and strangers differed only in rate of approaching. P. leucopus neighbors approached more often, investigated earlier and more often, and avoided less than P. maniculatus neighbors. Strangers of the two species did not differ in behavior. Our study population of P. leucopus apparently had a social organization based on mutual recognition of neighbors, with some type of dominance relationship between them, and on aggressiveness toward strangers. The P. maniculatus did not exhibit neighbor recognition. A different subspecies of P. maniculatus has been reported to behave as the P. leucopus we studied. The subspecific differences may be due to differences between social organization of the maniculatus subspecies or to factors peculiar to our study population.

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