Eavesdropping on the Neighbourhood: Collared Pika (<i>Ochotona collaris</i>) Responses to Playback Calls of Conspecifics and Heterospecifics

Trefry, Sarah A.; Hik, David S.

doi:10.1111/j.1439-0310.2009.01675.x

Cited by 32 publications

(26 citation statements)

References 60 publications

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“…More recently, collared pikas have been the subject of several ecological and behavioural studies in a limited portion of their range (MacDonald & Jones, 1987;Franken & Hik, 2004;Smith et al, 2004;Morrison & Hik, 2007Trefry & Hik, 2009a). These studies suggest that O. collaris is highly , 1987;Smith & Weston, 1990;Hafner & Smith, 2010) and verified against localities from specimen records (Appendix S1).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 88%

Deep barriers, shallow divergences: reduced phylogeographical structure in the collared pika (Mammalia:Lagomorpha:Ochotona collaris)

Lanier

Olson

2012

Journal of Biogeography

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Aim Pikas (Ochotona spp.) are alpine specialists that show considerable morphological and genetic variation structured along latitudinal and elevational gradients. Recent studies of North American and Asian pikas have uncovered phylogeographical partitioning among separate mountain ranges and drainages, driven by Quaternary climate fluctuations. We tested the prediction that collared pikas (O. collaris) exhibit lower genetic diversity and less structure than other species of pika due to lower long‐term habitat stability. Location Eastern Beringia (Alaska and north‐western Canada). Methods We examined phylogeographical variation in the collared pika (O. collaris) throughout much of its known range using the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene. Population divergence and genetic diversity were compared within and between mountain ranges. Genetic diversity was contrasted with current and Pleistocene habitat fragmentation inferred from ecological niche models. Results Low but significant differentiation was evident between most populations of O. collaris, with little haplotype sharing among populations and a single phylogeographical break separating a genetically distinct haplogroup in the south‐eastern part of its range. Variation was mostly structured within populations (as opposed to between populations or mountain ranges). When within‐species nucleotide diversity in O. collaris, O. princeps and O. curzoniae was compared, genetic diversity was found to decline with increasing latitude. Main conclusions Populations of O. collaris are less geographically structured and exhibit less variability than populations of either O. princeps or O. curzoniae. This pattern is better explained by the amount of available Pleistocene habitat predicted for each species than by current predicted habitat or population discontinuity. Collared pikas are currently considered to be a common species at low risk of extinction, but their habitat specificity, population subdivision, and low genetic variation may have consequences for their continued viability in a warming world.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 88%

Deep barriers, shallow divergences: reduced phylogeographical structure in the collared pika (Mammalia:Lagomorpha:Ochotona collaris)

Lanier

Olson

2012

Journal of Biogeography

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“… 1 Callaway et al 2002; 2 Holmgren et al 1997; 3 Zeng and Lu 2008; 4 Murdoch et al 2009; 5 Wied and Galen 1998; 6 Thomas and Bowman 1998; 7 Mysterud et al 2011; 8 Odadi et al 2011b; 9 Callaway et al 2000; 10 Trefry and Hik 2009; 11 Blumstein and Armitage 1997; 12 Bêty et al 2002. …”

Section: When Where and How Can We Expect Facilitation Among Alpine mentioning

confidence: 99%

Extending the stress‐gradient hypothesis – is competition among animals less common in harsh environments?

Barrio

Hik

Bueno

et al. 2012

Oikos

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The role of positive interactions has become widely accepted as a mechanism shaping community dynamics. Most empirical evidence comes from plant communities and sessile marine organisms. However, evidence for the relative role of positive interactions in organizing terrestrial animal communities is more limited, and a general framework that includes positive interactions among animals is lacking. The 'stress gradient hypothesis' (SGH) developed by plant ecologists predicts that the balance between positive and negative interactions will vary along gradients of biotic and abiotic stress, with positive interactions being more important in stressful environments. Paralleling the SGH, stress gradients for terrestrial herbivores could be equated to inverse primary productivity gradients, so we would expect positive interactions to prevail in more stressful, low productivity environments. However, this contradicts the typical view of terrestrial animal ecology that low primary productivity systems will foster intense competition for resources among consumers. Here we use alpine herbivores as a case study to test one of the predictions of the SGH in animal communities, namely the prevalence of positive interactions in low productivity environments. We identify potential mechanisms of facilitation and review the limited number of examples of interspecific interactions among alpine herbivores to assess the role of positive and negative interactions in structuring their communities. A meta-analysis showed no clear trend in the strength and direction of interactions among alpine herbivores. Although studies were biased towards reporting significant negative interactions, we found no evidence of competition dominating in harsh environments. Thus, our results only partially support the SGH, but directly challenge the dominant view among animal ecologists. Clearly, a sound theoretical framework is needed to include competition, positive and neutral interactions as potential mechanisms determining the structure of animal communities under differing environmental conditions, and the stress-gradient hypothesis can provide a solid starting point.

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“…Recognition of heterospecific alarm calls has been demonstrated in several species of birds (Magrath et al. ; Goodale & Kotagama ; Fallow & Magrath ), mammals (Shriner ; Trefry & Hik ; Aschemeier & Maher ), and even non‐vocal reptiles (Vitousek et al. ; Ito & Mori ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Does Gray Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) Response to Heterospecific Alarm Calls Depend on Familiarity or Acoustic Similarity?

et al. 2013

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In habitats in which multiple species are prey to the same predators, individuals can greatly benefit from recognizing information regarding predators that is provided by other species. Past studies have demonstrated that various mammals respond to familiar heterospecific alarm calls, but whether acoustic similarity to a familiar call can prompt a mammal's recognition of an unfamiliar call has yet to be shown. We presented alarm calls to free‐ranging eastern gray squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis) and recorded behavioral changes in vigilance and antipredatory response. Playbacks included alarm calls of a sympatric bird (American robin, Turdus migratorius), an allopatric bird with a call structure similar to that of the robin (common blackbird, Turdus merula), and an allopatric bird with a distinct call structure (New Holland honeyeater, Phylidonyris novaehollandiae). Squirrels responded significantly more frequently to squirrel alarm calls (positive control) than to robin song (negative control) or honeyeater calls. Squirrel response to robin and blackbird alarm calls was statistically similar to their response to squirrel alarm calls, indicating that squirrels responded to those alarm calls as if they provided information about the presence of predators. However, squirrel response to robin song was not statistically different from response to any of the other avian calls, including the robin and blackbird alarms, suggesting that squirrels neither respond to blackbird alarms as if they clearly signify danger, nor as if they clearly do not signify danger, perhaps reflecting some ambiguity in interpretation of the calls. These results suggest that squirrel responses to alarm calls are generally based on call familiarity, but that acoustic similarity of an unfamiliar allopatric call to a familiar call also can elicit antipredator behavior. The lack of response to honeyeater alarm calls also supports the hypothesis that call recognition by gray squirrels is dependent on familiarity, rather than simply detection of an acoustic feature common to alarm calls across a variety of avian species.

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Eavesdropping on the Neighbourhood: Collared Pika (Ochotona collaris) Responses to Playback Calls of Conspecifics and Heterospecifics

Cited by 32 publications

References 60 publications

Deep barriers, shallow divergences: reduced phylogeographical structure in the collared pika (Mammalia:Lagomorpha:Ochotona collaris)

Deep barriers, shallow divergences: reduced phylogeographical structure in the collared pika (Mammalia:Lagomorpha:Ochotona collaris)

Extending the stress‐gradient hypothesis – is competition among animals less common in harsh environments?

Does Gray Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) Response to Heterospecific Alarm Calls Depend on Familiarity or Acoustic Similarity?

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