Animal Behavior as a Predictor of Earthquakes? An Analysis of Rodent Activity Rhythms

✍ Scribed by Kenagy, G. J. ;Enright, J. T.

• Book ID: 115138578
• Publisher: Wiley (Blackwell Publishing)
• Year: 2010
• Weight: 960 KB
• Volume: 52
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0044-3573
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1439-0310.1980.tb00716.x

✦ Synopsis

We present a detailed analysis of patterns of wheel-running behavior surrounding the time of the Los Angeles Earthquake of 9 February 1971 for a group of 10 kangaroo rats (Dipodomys merriarni). Our retrospective analysis of these fortuitously obtained data serves to identify a series of problems in the rigorous analysis of possible behavioral responses of animals to hypothetical geophysical stimuli generated prior to earthquakes. Our observation of a 5-day minimum of wheel-running activity preceding the earthquake is equivocal because of the uncertain influence of other kinds of transient disturbances unrelated to the earthquake. We urge a cautious interpretation of our data and offer suggestions for rigorous design of experiments and testing of hypotheses in future studies of this sort.