The ecology and sociology of the Norway rat

Calhoun, John B.

doi:10.5962/bhl.title.112283

Cited by 1,040Animal Ecology and Behavior StudiesWildlife Ecology and ConservationYersinia bacterium, plague, ectoparasites research

The ecology and sociology of the Norway rat

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Calhoun, John B.·1963

DOI 10.5962/bhl.title.112283

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Bibliography: p. 285-288

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In natural settings, juvenile rats have access to many potential partners of both sexes, so they have choice with whom to play, unlike laboratory rats tested in pairs.
“In the wild, as juvenile rats age, they would not only have access to their littermates, but also peers from nearby litters, and therefore many potential partners of both sexes (Calhoun 1963; Schweinfurth 2020). Thus, in natural settings, rats would have choice with whom to play, a choice that laboratory rats tested in pairs are not afforded.”
From Partner Choice and Context‐Dependent Sex Differences in Rat Rough‐and‐Tumble Play (2026) · cites this paper as Calhoun 1963
The burrow description (p. 18) reports young from a first litter sharing a burrow with a second litter, and another description reports five litters of varying ages in one burrow. These observations support access to peers beyond littermates in a naturalistic setting. Our copy does not establish that juveniles could choose play partners of both sexes or make the comparison with laboratory rats tested in pairs. (LLM, conf=0.82)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
Low food availability promotes antagonistic in-group interactions between rodents, and the advantages of dominant position become more pronounced under limited resources conditions.
“For example, data from naturalistic settings suggests that low food availability promote antagonistic in-group interactions between rodents-the advantages of dominant position become more pronounced under limited resources conditions.24,25”
From Ecological validity of social interaction tests in rats and mice (2019) · cites this paper as [25]
Within wild rat groups, rats rarely fight with each other (but often attack intruders) and often sleep together in common burrows.
“Within those groups, rats rarely fight with each other (but often attack intruders) and often sleep together in common burrows.25”
From Ecological validity of social interaction tests in rats and mice (2019) · cites this paper as [25]
Rats that transfer from one collective to another are usually subordinates, do not play an active reproductive role, and often are unsuccessful in maintaining body weight.
“Some rats transfer from one collective to another.These individuals, however, are usually subordinates.25 They do not play an active reproductive role, and often are unsuccessful in maintaining body weight (see Section 4).”
From Ecological validity of social interaction tests in rats and mice (2019) · cites this paper as [25]
Factors that increase the probability of an animal becoming dominant are: longer residence on a given territory than a rival, being older and heavier, history of winning previous fights, and lack of stressful, traumatizing events.
“Those are: longer residence on a given territory than a rival, being older and heavier, history of winning previous fights and lack of stressful, traumatizing events.25,50,76,92,104”
From Ecological validity of social interaction tests in rats and mice (2019) · cites this paper as [25]

In naturalistic conditions, wild rats display robust social dominance.
“In naturalistic conditions, wild rats display robust social dominance, which was described in detail by Calhoun.25,104”
From Ecological validity of social interaction tests in rats and mice (2019) · cites this paper as [25]
This suggests that omegas are the animals which do not accept their social position and might be the most probable to either change it or leave the colony.
“This suggests that omegas are the animals which do not accept their social position and might be the most probable to either change it or leave the colony.25,50”
From Ecological validity of social interaction tests in rats and mice (2019) · cites this paper as [25]
Wild rat social dominance is reflected mainly by fighting for food.
“This is reflected mainly by fighting for food.”
From Ecological validity of social interaction tests in rats and mice (2019) · cites this paper as [25]
Fights for food are most intensive when clear hierarchy is not yet established.
“Such fights are most intensive when clear hierarchy is not yet established.”
From Ecological validity of social interaction tests in rats and mice (2019) · cites this paper as [25]
In stable groups, even though overt aggression is largely reduced, animals can treat each other differently depending on their social position.
“In stable groups, even though overt aggression is largely reduced, animals can treat each other differently depending on their social position.”
From Ecological validity of social interaction tests in rats and mice (2019) · cites this paper as [25]
Although dominance between female rats is typically much less pronounced and they display fewer fights and injuries than males, they probably form dominance ranks as well.
“Although dominance between females is typically much less pronounced and they display fewer fights and injuries than males, they probably form dominance ranks as well.25”
From Ecological validity of social interaction tests in rats and mice (2019) · cites this paper as [25]
Dominance hierarchies are generally less pronounced among domesticated rats than in the wild.
“Secondly, literature suggests that dominance hierarchies are generally less pronounced among domesticated rats than in the wild.”
From Ecological validity of social interaction tests in rats and mice (2019) · cites this paper as [25]
Social stressors play a major role in the regulation of wild rat populations: omega rats have the lowest chance of survival despite access to food and housing.
“Keeping this in mind, social stressors play major role in the regulation of wild rats population: omegas have the lowest chance of survival despite access to food 25,50 and housing.”
From Ecological validity of social interaction tests in rats and mice (2019) · cites this paper as [25]

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Research works printed but not linked: 18

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“Keywords: adolescence; exploration; novelty; rats; sex differences”
Background

Authors: Calhoun, J. B.
Corresponding author: Calhoun, John B.
Publisher: U.S. Dept. of Health, Education, and Welfare, Public Health Service
Published: 1963
DOI: 10.5962/bhl.title.112283
OpenAlex: W2499413085
Cited by: 1,040
References: 0
Citations by year: 2026: 8 · 2025: 16 · 2024: 12 · 2023: 13 · 2022: 17 · 2021: 13 · 2020: 36 · 2019: 27 · 2018: 14 · 2017: 15 · 2016: 30 · 2015: 19 · 2014: 14 · 2013: 15 · 2012: 17
FWCI: 13.26
Type: book
Language: en
Open access: gold
doi.org
Locations: Biodiversity Heritage Library (Smithsonian Institution) (submittedVersion)
University of Michigan Library Repository (submittedVersion, public-domain)
Topics: Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Ecology › Animal Ecology and Behavior Studies
Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Ecology › Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Yersinia bacterium, plague, ectoparasites research
Keywords: Rattus norvegicus, rodent ecology, social behavior

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The ecology and sociology of the Norway rat

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