ultrasonic reaction of bank vole

What is it about?

Ultrasounds are emitted during male-female encounters of bank voles. We have shown that males behaviour together with ultrasonic vocalization depends on the phase of the reproductive cycle of the females. Males produce more ultrasounds and more qualitatively varied calls in the presence of oestrus female. It can suggest that ultrasonic calls are a part of sexual behaviour and can be involved in sexual selection.

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Why is it important?

To our knowlege this is the first evidence that male voles of the subfamily Arvicolonae use ultrasounds as highly context specific during courtship behaviour depending on the reproductive state of females.