The present review provides a compilation of the published data on the ecology and social behaviour of tamarisk gerbils. Both field studies and direct observations under semi-natural conditions provide evidence that the tamarisk gerbil is a nocturnal herbivorous rodent that lives in highly seasonal habitats and displays seasonal fluctuations in reproduction and spatial organization. A typical feature of the tamarisk gerbils' spatial organization is higher mobility of males during the breeding season (as compared to the non-breeding period) and formation of temporary aggregations of males competing for access to receptive females; the composition of these aggregations was variable and depended on the reproductive condition of the females. Females tend to occupy exclusive home ranges irrespective of their reproductive condition. The mating system of the species can be defined as scramble competition polygyny with some features of polygynandry and promiscuity. The tamarisk gerbil has distinct features of a solitary species and its social structure is primarily based on aggressive interactions or mutual avoidance of conspecifics resulting in a dominance hierarchy among males and site-dependent dominance among females during the breeding season. By the end of the breeding season, males become less mobile and occupy nearly exclusive home ranges, consistent with solitary living. The main features of the spatial and social organization of this species, which distinguish it from other solitary rodents, are the higher mobility of males and the formation of temporary multi-male–multi-female aggregations during the breeding season. Overall, the data presented expand our understanding of socio-ecology of gerbils.

中文翻译：

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柽柳沙鼠 Meriones tamariscinus 的生态和社会行为：来自野生和半自然环境的长期研究的见解

本综述提供了有关柽柳沙鼠生态和社会行为的已发表数据的汇编。现场研究和半自然条件下的直接观察都提供了证据，表明红柳沙鼠是一种夜间食草啮齿动物，生活在高度季节性的栖息地中，并在繁殖和空间组织方面表现出季节性波动。柽柳沙鼠空间组织的一个典型特征是，在繁殖季节（与非繁殖期相比）雄性的流动性较高，并且雄性形成临时聚集体，竞争接近接受性的雌性；这些聚集体的组成是可变的，并且取决于雌性的生殖状况。无论生殖状况如何，雌性都倾向于占据专属的活动范围。该物种的交配制度可以定义为争夺竞争的一夫多妻制，具有一夫多妻制和乱交的一些特征。柽柳沙鼠具有独居物种的独特特征，其社会结构主要基于同种动物之间的攻击性互动或相互回避，导致繁殖季节期间雄性之间的优势等级和雌性之间的地点依赖性优势。到繁殖季节结束时，雄性的活动能力变得越来越差，占据着几乎专属的领地，这与独居生活是一致的。该物种与其他独居啮齿动物的空间和社会组织的主要特征是雄性的较高流动性以及在繁殖季节形成临时的多雄性-多雌性聚集体。总体而言，所提供的数据扩展了我们对沙鼠社会生态学的理解。