Abstract:
Little is known about how environmental factors such as season influence burrowing
activity, burrow structure or reproductive behaviour in subterranean mammals. We
excavated burrow systems of male and female Georychus capensis, a solitary,
subterranean rodent, in winter (wet season) and summer (dry season) to investigate
whether any seasonal differences due to putative mate-seeking behaviour of males
were apparent. Burrow structure did not differ between sexes, but did differ between
seasons. For both sexes, summer burrows were shorter in length and covered a smaller
area but explored the surrounding environment more efficiently than did winter
burrows. Summer burrows had fewer mounds present indicating less expansion of the
burrow systems in this season. We discuss these differences in exploration and use of
the environment between seasons but not between sexes in terms of mating strategies of G. capensis and observed levels of sexual dimorphism in our populations. This
study supports recent concepts regarding female competition and selection that may
favour the expression of female exaggerated traits, which affect a female’s ability to
acquire reproductive resources that often appear similar to that selected for by males.
