The Influence of Snakes on the Foraging Behavior of Gerbils

Kotler, Burt P.; Brown, Joel S.; Slotow, Rob; Goodfriend, Wendy; Strauss, Michal

doi:10.2307/3545476

Cited by 112 publications

(72 citation statements)

References 33 publications

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“…Other studies have shown that microhabitat features indicative of high snake predation risk (e.g., bushy, occluded habitats) induces predator-avoidance behaviors in several rodent species (Kotler et al 1993;Wasko et al 2014). Although snakes in our study were most often found in burrows, they ambushed squirrels almost equally across microhabitat types.…”

Section: Snake Detectioncontrasting

confidence: 45%

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The ontogeny of antipredator behavior: age differences in California ground squirrels (Otospermophilus beecheyi) at multiple stages of rattlesnake encounters

Putman

Coss

Clark

2015

Behav Ecol Sociobiol

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Newborn offspring of animals often exhibit fully functional innate antipredator behaviors, but they may also require learning or further development to acquire appropriate responses. Experience allows offspring to modify responses to specific threats and also leaves them vulnerable during the learning period. However, antipredator behaviors used at one stage of a predator encounter may compensate for deficiencies at another stage, a phenomenon that may reduce the overall risk of young that are vulnerable at one or more stages. Few studies have examined age differences in the effectiveness of antipredator behaviors across multiple stages of a predator encounter. In this study, we examined age differences in the antipredator behaviors of California ground squirrels (Otospermophilus beecheyi) during the detection, interaction, and attack stages of Pacific rattlesnake (Crotalus oreganus) encounters. Using free-ranging squirrels, we examined the ability to detect free-ranging rattlesnakes, snake-directed behaviors after discovery of a snake, and responses to simulated rattlesnake strikes. We found that age was the most important factor in snake detection, with adults being more likely to detect snakes than pups. We also found that adults performed more tail flagging (a predator-deterrent signal) toward snakes and were more likely to investigate a snake's refuge when interacting with a hidden snake. In field experiments simulating snake strikes, adults exhibited faster reaction times than pups. Our results show that snake detection improves with age and that pups probably avoid rattlesnakes and minimize time spent in close proximity to them to compensate for their reduced reaction times to strikes.

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Section: Snake Detectioncontrasting

confidence: 45%

“…For example, some rodents are known to alter their foraging behavior in response to vipers, while others remain unaffected (Kotler et al 1993;Bouskila 1995;Wasko et al 2014). Because squirrel pups should avoid risky habitats where rattlesnakes are found, they could have limited access to high-quality resources.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The ontogeny of antipredator behavior: age differences in California ground squirrels (Otospermophilus beecheyi) at multiple stages of rattlesnake encounters

Putman

Coss

Clark

2015

Behav Ecol Sociobiol

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“…There, gerbils visit fewer resource patches in response to risk factors such as open microhabitat, moonlight, and the presence of predators (e.g. Kotler et al 1991Kotler et al , 1993bBrown et al 1994) and exploit those resource patches less thoroughly (e.g. Kotler et al 1991).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Moonlight avoidance in gerbils reveals a sophisticated interplay among time allocation, vigilance and state-dependent foraging

et al. 2010

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Foraging animals have several tools for managing the risk of predation, and the foraging games between them and their predators. Among these, time allocation is foremost, followed by vigilance and apprehension. Together, their use influences a forager's time allocation and giving-up density (GUD) in depletable resource patches. We examined Allenby's gerbils (Gerbilus andersoni allenbyi) exploiting seed resource patches in a large vivarium under varying moon phases in the presence of a red fox (Vulpes vulpes). We measured time allocated to foraging patches electronically and GUDs from seeds left behind in resource patches. From these, we estimated handling times, attack rates and quitting harvest rates (QHRs). Gerbils displayed greater vigilance (lower attack rates) at brighter moon phases (full , wane , wax , new). Similarly, they displayed higher GUDs at brighter moon phases (wax . full . new . wane). Finally, gerbils displayed higher QHRs at new and waxing moon phases. Differences across moon phases not only reflect changing time allocation and vigilance, but changes in the state of the foragers and their marginal value of energy. Early in the lunar cycle, gerbils rely on vigilance and sacrifice state to avoid risk; later they defend state at the cost of increased time allocation; finally their state can recover as safe opportunities expand. In the predator-prey foraging game, foxes may contribute to these patterns of behaviours by modulating their own activity in response to the opportunities presented in each moon phase.

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“…Prey responses to predators include plastic changes in behavior, physiology, and morphology, that, while reducing predation risk, may also result in slower growth and development (Benard 2004), reduced fecundity (Preisser et al 2005), and, in some situations, greater risk of mortality from other sources (Kotler et al 1993). Predator-induced phenotypic prey responses consequently affect population dynamics, and in turn, community structure (Werner and Peacor 2003, Preisser et al 2005, Preisser and Bolnick 2008.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The deadly effects of “nonlethal” predators

McCauley

Rowe

Fortin

2011

Ecology

150

159

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Abstract. Nonconsumptive predator effects are widespread and include plasticity as well as general stress responses. Caged predators are often used to estimate nonconsumptive effects, and numerous studies have focused on the larval stages of animals with complex life cycles. However, few of these studies test whether nonconsumptive predator effects, including stress responses, are exclusively sublethal. Nor have they assessed whether these effects extend beyond the larval stage, affecting success during stressful life-history transitions such as metamorphosis. We conducted experiments with larvae of a dragonfly (Leucorrhinia intacta) that exhibits predator-induced plasticity to assess whether the mere presence of predators affects larval survivorship, metamorphosis, and adult body size. Larvae exposed to caged predators with no ability to attack them had higher levels of mortality. In the second experiment, larvae reared with caged predators had higher rates of metamorphic failure, but there was no effect on adult body size. Our results suggest that stress responses induced by exposure to predator cues increase the vulnerability of prey to other mortality factors, and that mere exposure to predators can result in significant increases in mortality.

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The Influence of Snakes on the Foraging Behavior of Gerbils

Cited by 112 publications

References 33 publications

The ontogeny of antipredator behavior: age differences in California ground squirrels (Otospermophilus beecheyi) at multiple stages of rattlesnake encounters

The ontogeny of antipredator behavior: age differences in California ground squirrels (Otospermophilus beecheyi) at multiple stages of rattlesnake encounters

Moonlight avoidance in gerbils reveals a sophisticated interplay among time allocation, vigilance and state-dependent foraging

The deadly effects of “nonlethal” predators

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