The influence of the behaviour of conspecifics on responses to threat in the Mongolian gerbil, Meriones unguiculatus

In experiments designed to measure the extent to which Mongolian gerbils use the behaviours of conspecifics to assess threat, we presented gerbils with a laboratory simulation of an approaching overhead predator in a variety of different physical and social contexts. In the first experiment, we showed that gerbils adapt their evasive tactics to the presence of other individuals to maximize the probability that they will reach shelter quickly. In the second and third experiments, we showed that in the presence of a very mild threatening stimulus, defensive reactions were either enhanced or depressed depending on the behaviour of a nearby conspecific. Collectively, these experiments demonstrate a mechanism by which gerbils can use the behaviour of conspecifics to calibrate thresholds for flight from predators.