干旱区生态环境知识资源中心

Investigation of the activity pattern of Hotson’s jerboa (Allactaga hotsoni) by motorcycle and search light indicated that there was a significant relationship between night brightness and the encounter rate of the Hotson’s jerboa or its activity. The results showed a reduction in activity of the jerboa as the moon light intensity increased. In other words, we can infer that the encounter rate reaches a peak during the first and the last days of the lunar month, whereas they are hardly detectable during the middle of the lunar cycle. Although, on completely cloudy nights even in the middle of the lunar cycle, the encounter rate increased as well. This is a predator-prey co-evolutional mechanism that lowers the predation risk. Additionally, the activity shifted somewhat from the vegetation cover to the open areas when the moon was high; however, the least encounter rate was recorded in full moon status.