Anti‐Predator Behavior of Vancouver Island Marmots: Using Congeners to Evaluate Abilities of a Critically Endangered Mammal

Abstract

2001: Anti-predator behavior of Vancouver Island marmots: using congeners to evaluate abilities of a critically endangered mammal. Ethology 107, 1Ð14. AbstractBehavioral comparisons between endangered species and their congeners may provide valuable data with which to test ideas about declining populations or the future direction of recovery eorts. We considered the case of the highly endangered Vancouver Island marmot (Marmota vancouverensis). Predation is a current source of mortality, and inadequate anti-predator behavior could have profound rami®cations for the future success of re-introductions. We tested whether M. vancouverensis anti-predator behavior was unusual or Ôde®cientÕ by quantifying it and comparing it to 13 other marmot species. We found no evidence that Vancouver Island marmots were unwary. If anything, the converse was true. Vancouver Island marmots were responsive and vigilant towards real and simulated predatory threats. They dug numerous escape burrows that reduced the likelihood of predation. Our results have several implications for future recovery eorts, one of which was to establish ÔbaselineÕ¯ight-response targets that captive-bred Vancouver Island marmots will have to meet or exceed prior to release into predator-rich environments.

Pastoralist disturbance effects on Himalayan marmot foraging and vigilance activity

“…Vigilance is influenced by several factors (Armitage 2014), including distance to burrow (Blumstein et al 2001), visibility (Bednekoff and Blumstein 2009;Ferrari et al 2009), distance to other neighbours (Ferna´ndez-Juricic et al 2007), age and sex (Neuhaus and Mainini 1998;Lea and Blumstein 2011), reproductive status (Childress and Lung 2003), type of stimuli Li et al 2011), parental status (Lenti Boreo 2003, and human activities (Griffin et al 2007). In general, animals invest more time in vigilance behaviour in areas experiencing high risks (Unck et al 2009).…”

Vancouver Island Marmots (<em>Marmota vancouverensis</em>) Consume Plants Containing Toxic Secondary Compounds

“…Veratrum viride has been recognized as a possible food plant for marmots (Hansen 1975;Heard 1977;Milko 1984;Nagorsen 1987;Barash 1989) (Blumstein et al 2001), and the number of plant species browsed often appears to be in proportion to what is immediately available (Werner and Brashares, unpublished data). However, selective foraging has been identified in the Vancouver Island Marmot (Milko 1984;Martell and Milko 1986) and other marmot species (Hansen 1975;Armitage 1979;Barash 1989;Frase and Armitage 1989;Stallman and Holmes 2002;Armitage 2003).…”

Marmota olympus

“…Regardless of group size, foraging Olympic marmots spend a large percentage of time looking up (ca. 350/0, n = 20) for predators (Blumstein et al 2001). Foraging individuals (n = 5) averaged less time per minute looking up when in a group (14.8 s) than alone (33.1 s) allowing more foraging time (Barash 1973).…”

“…Individuals enter all burrows and move freely within the colony (Barash 1973). The home range of a colony averages 5.35 ha (2.0-8.7 ha), beyond which members rarely stray (Barash 1973;Blumstein et al 2001). Several colonies may exist in close proximity «500 m).…”