Differential foraging in presence of predator and conspecific odors in bank voles: a field enclosure study

Abstract

Bank voles detect and discriminate other organisms, e.g., predators versus conspecifics, based on olfactory clues like urine, feces, or scent marks. The present field enclosure experiment was set up to determine whether scented food is sufficient for inducing such differentiated reactions in bank voles. Fourteen different odors were tested, divided into four categories: (1) terrestrial predators, (2) avian predators, (3) conspecifics, and (4) neutral origin (human, dog, solvent-treated, and unscented). The odors were extracted with methanol from pellets or feces, or were an artificial substitute. To test the influence of odors on the foraging behavior of voles, artificial food patches containing scented feeders were used. The feeders were cleaned and refilled daily with a calibrated amount of food sprayed with 1 ml of a different odor randomly chosen. The patches were also equipped with monochromatic cameras to monitor the occurrences of voles around the feeders. Both the visits at scented feeders and food consumption were analyzed for each odor. The results show that relative to their foraging activity on unscented food, bank voles significantly reduce it on food scented with odors of terrestrial predators, and increase it in the presence of conspecific odors. Their foraging activity was not affected by neutral scent, nor by scents from avian predators. These results prove that bank voles react to scented food in a way that varies according to the source of odor, even in the semi-natural conditions of an outdoor enclosure.

Demographic Determinants of Residue Profiles of Fungicidal Compounds in Common Voles (Microtus arvalis) under Semi-Natural and Natural Conditions

“…Enclosure studies are used in basic and applied scientific studies to strike a reasonable balance between controlling experimental conditions and providing a natural setting. This is particularly the case for studying small mammals such as voles, 18 rats, 19 and mice. 20 However, surprisingly, few studies have used this approach for the determination of residue profiles in small mammals.…”

Experience of social density during early life is associated with attraction to conspecific odour in the common vole (Microtus arvalis)

“…The use of olfactory cues for social communication is well known in rodents (Schultz & Tapp, 1973). Bank voles ( Myodes glareolus ), for example, increase foraging activity when conspecific scent is present (Verplancke et al., 2010). Generally, olfaction plays an important role during mate choice (Ferkin, 2018), offspring rearing (e.g.…”