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Gavini SS, Quintero C. Predation risk and floral rewards: How pollinators balance these conflicts and the consequences on plant fitness. CURRENT RESEARCH IN INSECT SCIENCE 2024; 6:100091. [PMID: 39193177 PMCID: PMC11345579 DOI: 10.1016/j.cris.2024.100091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2023] [Revised: 07/09/2024] [Accepted: 07/15/2024] [Indexed: 08/29/2024]
Abstract
Foraging behavior of pollinators is shaped by, among other factors, the conflict between maximizing resource intake and minimizing predation risk; yet, empirical studies quantifying variation in both forces are rare, compared to those investigating each separately. Here, we discuss the importance of simultaneously assessing bottom-up and top-down forces in the study of plant-pollinator interactions, and propose a conceptual and testable graphical hypothesis for pollinator foraging behavior and plant fitness outcomes as a function of varying floral rewards and predation risk. In low predation risk scenarios, no noticeable changes in pollinator foraging behavior are expected, with reward levels affecting only the activity threshold. However, as predation risk increases we propose that there is a decrease in foraging behavior, with a steeper decline as plants are more rewarding and profitable. Lastly, in high predation risk scenarios, we expect foraging to approach zero, regardless of floral rewards. Thus, we propose that pollinator foraging behavior follows an inverse S-shape curve, with more pronounced changes in foraging activity at intermediate levels of predation risk, especially in high reward systems. We present empirical evidence that is consistent with this hypothesis. In terms of the consequences for plant fitness, we propose that specialized plant-pollinator systems should be more vulnerable to increased predation risk, with a steeper and faster decline in plant fitness, compared with generalist systems, in which pollinator redundancy can delay or buffer the effect of predators. Moreover, whereas we expect that specialist systems follows a similar inverse S-shape curve, in generalist systems we propose three different scenarios as a function not only of reward level but also compatibility, mating-system, and the interplay between growth form and floral display. The incorporation of trade-offs in pollinator behavior balancing the conflicting demands between feeding and predation risk has a promising future as a key feature enabling the development of more complex foraging models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabrina S. Gavini
- INIBIOMA, CONICET-CRUB, Universidad Nacional del Comahue, Quintral 1250, San Carlos de Bariloche, Río Negro, Argentina
| | - Carolina Quintero
- INIBIOMA, CONICET-CRUB, Universidad Nacional del Comahue, Quintral 1250, San Carlos de Bariloche, Río Negro, Argentina
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2
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Gable TD, Johnson-Bice SM, Homkes AT, Fieberg J, Bump JK. Wolves alter the trajectory of forests by shaping the central place foraging behaviour of an ecosystem engineer. Proc Biol Sci 2023; 290:20231377. [PMID: 37935367 PMCID: PMC10645084 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2023.1377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Predators can directly and indirectly alter the foraging behaviour of prey through direct predation and the risk of predation, and in doing so, initiate indirect effects that influence myriad species and ecological processes. We describe how wolves indirectly alter the trajectory of forests by constraining the distance that beavers, a central place forager and prolific ecosystem engineer, forage from water. Specifically, we demonstrate that wolves wait in ambush and kill beavers on longer feeding trails than would be expected based on the spatio-temporal availability of beavers. This pattern is driven by temporal dynamics of beaver foraging: beavers make more foraging trips and spend more time on land per trip on longer feeding trails that extend farther from water. As a result, beavers are more vulnerable on longer feeding trails than shorter ones. Wolf predation appears to be a selective evolutionary pressure propelled by consumptive and non-consumptive mechanisms that constrain the distance from water beavers forage, which in turn limits the area of forest around wetlands, lakes and rivers beavers alter through foraging. Thus, wolves appear intricately linked to boreal forest dynamics by shaping beaver foraging behaviour, a form of natural disturbance that alters the successional and ecological states of forests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas D. Gable
- Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology, University of Minnesota, 2003 Upper Buford Circles, St Paul, MN 55108, USA
| | - Sean M. Johnson-Bice
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Manitoba, 50 Sifton Road, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, R3T 2N2
| | - Austin T. Homkes
- Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology, University of Minnesota, 2003 Upper Buford Circles, St Paul, MN 55108, USA
| | - John Fieberg
- Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology, University of Minnesota, 2003 Upper Buford Circles, St Paul, MN 55108, USA
| | - Joseph K. Bump
- Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology, University of Minnesota, 2003 Upper Buford Circles, St Paul, MN 55108, USA
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3
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Ferreira CM, Dammhahn M, Eccard JA. So many choices, so little time: Food preference and movement vary with the landscape of fear. Ecol Evol 2023; 13:e10330. [PMID: 37520778 PMCID: PMC10372006 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.10330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Spatial and temporal variation in perceived predation risk is an important determinant of movement and foraging activity of animals. Foraging in this landscape of fear, individuals need to decide where and when to move, and what resources to choose. Foraging theory predicts the outcome of these decisions based on energetic trade-offs, but complex interactions between perceived predation risk and preferences of foragers for certain functional traits of their resources are rarely considered. Here, we studied the interactive effects of perceived predation risk on food trait preferences and foraging behavior in bank voles (Myodes glareolus) in experimental landscapes. Individuals (n = 19) were subjected for periods of 24 h to two extreme, risk-uniform landscapes (either risky or safe), containing 25 discrete food patches, filled with seeds of four plant species in even amounts. Seeds varied in functional traits: size, nutrients, and shape. We evaluated whether and how risk modifies forager preference for functional traits. We also investigated whether perceived risk and distance from shelter affected giving-up density (GUD), time in patches, and number of patch visits. In safe landscapes, individuals increased time spent in patches, lowered GUD and visited distant patches more often compared to risky landscapes. Individuals preferred bigger seeds independent of risk, but in the safe treatment they preferred fat-rich over carb-rich seeds. Thus, higher densities of resource levels remained in risky landscapes, while in safe landscapes resource density was lower and less diverse due to selective foraging. Our results suggest that the interaction of perceived risk and dietary preference adds an additional layer to the cascading effects of a landscape of fear which affects biodiversity at resource level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clara Mendes Ferreira
- Animal Ecology, Institute for Biochemistry and BiologyUniversity of PotsdamPotsdamGermany
| | - Melanie Dammhahn
- Behavioural Biology, Institute for Neuro‐ and Behavioural BiologyUniversity of MünsterMünsterGermany
| | - Jana A. Eccard
- Animal Ecology, Institute for Biochemistry and BiologyUniversity of PotsdamPotsdamGermany
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4
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Rooney NJ, Baker P, Blackwell E, Walker M, Mullan S, Saunders R, Held SD. Run access, hutch size and time-of-day affect welfare-relevant behaviour and faecal corticosterone in pair-housed pet rabbits. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2023.105919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/05/2023]
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5
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Smulders FOH, Bakker ES, O'Shea OR, Campbell JE, Rhoades OK, Christianen MJA. Green turtles shape the seascape through grazing patch formation around habitat features: Experimental evidence. Ecology 2023; 104:e3902. [PMID: 36310424 PMCID: PMC10078154 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.3902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2022] [Revised: 08/10/2022] [Accepted: 09/07/2022] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Understanding how megaherbivores incorporate habitat features into their foraging behavior is key toward understanding how herbivores shape the surrounding landscape. While the role of habitat structure has been studied within the context of predator-prey dynamics and grazing behavior in terrestrial systems, there is a limited understanding of how structure influences megaherbivore grazing in marine ecosystems. To investigate the response of megaherbivores (green turtles) to habitat features, we experimentally introduced structure at two spatial scales in a shallow seagrass meadow in The Bahamas. Turtle density increased 50-fold (to 311 turtles ha-1 ) in response to the structures, and turtles were mainly grazing and resting (low vigilance behavior). This resulted in a grazing patch exceeding the size of the experimental setup (242 m2 ), with reduced seagrass shoot density and aboveground biomass. After structure removal, turtle density decreased and vigilance increased (more browsing and shorter surfacing times), while seagrass within the patch partly recovered. Even at a small scale (9 m2 ), artificial structures altered turtle grazing behavior, resulting in grazing patches in 60% of the plots. Our results demonstrate that marine megaherbivores select habitat features as foraging sites, likely to be a predator refuge, resulting in heterogeneity in seagrass bed structure at the landscape scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- F O H Smulders
- Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality Management Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - E S Bakker
- Department of Aquatic Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), Wageningen, The Netherlands.,Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Group, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - O R O'Shea
- The Centre for Ocean Research and Education (CORE), Gregory Town, The Bahamas
| | - J E Campbell
- Department of Biological Sciences, Institute of Environment, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - O K Rhoades
- Department of Biological Sciences, Institute of Environment, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - M J A Christianen
- Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality Management Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
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6
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Co-occurrence patterns and habitat selection of the mountain hare, European hare, and European rabbit in urban areas of Sweden. Mamm Biol 2023. [DOI: 10.1007/s42991-022-00339-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
AbstractAssessing the underlying mechanisms of species co-occurrence patterns can be challenging as biotic and abiotic factors are hard to disentangle. To date, few studies have investigated co-occurrence patterns of mammals within urban areas. As urban areas are increasingly used as habitat by wildlife, there is a need for a better understanding of urban ecology to facilitate human-wildlife co-existence. Here, we investigated co-occurrence patterns and habitat selection of the European hare (Lepus europaeus), mountain hare (L. timidus), and European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) inside urban areas of Sweden, using joint species distribution models and generalized linear mixed models based on citizen science observations. All three species were observed within urban areas, but European hares and rabbits appear to be more successful urban colonizers compared to mountain hares. Overall, our findings suggested that urban occurrence by all three lagomorphs was related to suitable conditions within the distribution of each species (e.g., climate and elevation), rather than by the presence of other lagomorph species or specific land cover types within urban areas. On a finer spatial scale, European hares and rabbits generally selected for green urban areas and mountain hares for residential gardens, which likely constitute suitable foraging sites. Moreover, overlap in activity times between European hares and rabbits was mediated by land cover type and sympatry. Our findings contribute to the understanding of urban ecology and provide insights for management measures of the three lagomorphs in urban areas of Sweden.
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de Jonge IK, Olff H, Wormmeester R, Veldhuis MP. Spatiotemporal habitat use of large African herbivores across a conservation border. CONSERVATION SCIENCE AND PRACTICE 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/csp2.12754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Inger K. de Jonge
- Conservation Ecology, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences University of Groningen Groningen The Netherlands
- Systems Ecology, Department of Ecological Science, Faculty of Science Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam Amsterdam The Netherlands
| | - Han Olff
- Conservation Ecology, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences University of Groningen Groningen The Netherlands
| | - Remo Wormmeester
- Conservation Ecology, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences University of Groningen Groningen The Netherlands
| | - Michiel P. Veldhuis
- Department of Environmental Biology, Institute of Environmental Sciences Leiden University Leiden The Netherlands
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8
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Zhang VY, Gagorik CN, Brenner LJ, Boser CL, Theimer TC, Buck CL. Interspecific Asymmetries in Behavioral Plasticity Drive Seasonal Patterns of Temporal Niche Partitioning in an Island Carnivore Community. Integr Comp Biol 2022; 62:998-1011. [PMID: 35803500 DOI: 10.1093/icb/icac113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2022] [Revised: 06/08/2022] [Accepted: 06/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Animals vary considerably in the amount of behavioral plasticity they exhibit in daily activity timing and temporal niche switching. It is not well understood how environmental factors drive changes in temporal activity or how interspecific differences in the plasticity of activity timing ultimately manifest in free-living animals. Here, we investigated the temporal structure and organization of activity patterns of two insular mammalian carnivores living in sympatry, the island fox (Urocyon littoralis) and island spotted skunk (Spilogale gracilis amphiala). Using collar-mounted accelerometers, we assessed the plasticity of behavioral activity rhythms in foxes and skunks by investigating how environmental factors drive the distribution of locomotor activity across the day and year, and subsequently examined the dynamics of temporal niche overlap between the two species. We documented that foxes express phenotypic plasticity in daily activity timing across the year, ranging from nocturnal to diurnal to crepuscular rhythms depending on individual and time of year. Most notably, foxes increased the proportion of daytime activity as seasonal temperatures decreased. Overall, activity patterns of foxes were consistent with the circadian thermoenergetics hypothesis, which posits that animals that switch their patterns of activity do so to coincide with the most energetically favorable time of day. In contrast to foxes, skunks exhibited little behavioral plasticity, appearing strictly nocturnal across the year. While the duration of skunk activity bouts increased with the duration of night, timing of activity onset and offset extended into daytime hours during summer when the duration of darkness was shortest. Analysis of temporal niche overlap between foxes and skunks suggested that niche overlap was highest during summer and lowest during winter and was dictated primarily by temporal niche switching in foxes, rather than skunks. Collectively, our results highlight how interspecific asymmetries in behavioral plasticity drive dynamic patterns of temporal niche overlap within an island carnivore community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victor Y Zhang
- Department of Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | | | | | | | - Tad C Theimer
- Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 86011, USA
| | - C Loren Buck
- Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 86011, USA
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9
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Molle G, Cannas A, Gregorini P. A review on the effects of part-time grazing herbaceous pastures on feeding behaviour and intake of cattle, sheep and horses. Livest Sci 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.livsci.2022.104982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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10
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Tuf IH, Ďurajková B. Antipredatory strategies of terrestrial isopods. Zookeys 2022; 1101:109-129. [PMID: 36760972 PMCID: PMC9848959 DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1101.76266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2021] [Accepted: 01/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Terrestrial isopods (Oniscidea) represent a widespread group of land Crustacea that have been able to successfully adapt to the terrestrial environment and occupy newly formed ecological niches. During the colonisation of land, they faced numerous challenges, including finding an effective way to avoid their new terrestrial predators. In response to predation pressure, they have developed various behavioural and morphological adaptations. These include tonic immobility, conglobation, clinging to the ground, releasing strongly acidic secretions, jumping, and efficient running away. Furthermore, terrestrial isopods can aggregate with other individuals, use stridulation, or change their typical activity time. Some of them also developed spiny tergites and aposematic colouration or posture. The majority of these strategies have not yet been studied.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivan Hadrián Tuf
- Department of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, Palacký University, Olomouc, Czech RepublicPalacký UniversityOlomoucCzech Republic
| | - Barbora Ďurajková
- Department of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, Palacký University, Olomouc, Czech RepublicPalacký UniversityOlomoucCzech Republic
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11
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Effects of Population Declines on Habitat Segregation and Activity Patterns of Rabbits and Hares in Doñana National Park, Spain. LAND 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/land11040461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/07/2022]
Abstract
Competition, predation, and diseases are key factors shaping animal communities. In recent decades, lagomorphs in Europe have been impacted by virus-borne diseases that have caused substantial declines in their populations and, subsequently, in many of their predators. We examined activity and habitat-use patterns of sympatric European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus L.) and Iberian hares (Lepus granatensis R.) in Doñana National Park, Spain, (DNP) during two periods of disease outbreak. In the first period (1984–1985), fecal pellet counts and roadside counts indicated that lagomorph species were segregated, with rabbits occurring in scrublands and hares in marshlands. Both species also occupied rush and fern belt ecotones. Roadside counts at sunrise, midday, sunset, and midnight revealed that rabbits and hares had the same activity patterns (crepuscular and nocturnal) in the zone of sympatry. During the second period (2005–2016), roadside counts showed that rabbits and hares were mainly nocturnal in scrublands and border marshlands. Hares occupied scrublands; a habitat previously occupied only by rabbits. These results are interpreted in light of the competition theory and predation pressure. The disease-caused decline of rabbits has likely favored hares that moved into scrublands, a vegetation type previously occupied exclusively by rabbits. The decline of rabbits in DNP has also caused the almost disappearance of this area of the Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus), a rabbit specialist, thus enabling generalist predators to increase. Generalist predators have subsequently increased predation pressure on both rabbits and hares, causing them to switch to nocturnal activity.
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12
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Wagner JD, Gelman A, Hancock KE, Chung Y, Delgutte B. Rabbits use both spectral and temporal cues to discriminate the fundamental frequency of harmonic complexes with missing fundamentals. J Neurophysiol 2022; 127:290-312. [PMID: 34879207 PMCID: PMC8759963 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00366.2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The pitch of harmonic complex tones (HCTs) common in speech, music, and animal vocalizations plays a key role in the perceptual organization of sound. Unraveling the neural mechanisms of pitch perception requires animal models, but little is known about complex pitch perception by animals, and some species appear to use different pitch mechanisms than humans. Here, we tested rabbits' ability to discriminate the fundamental frequency (F0) of HCTs with missing fundamentals, using a behavioral paradigm inspired by foraging behavior in which rabbits learned to harness a spatial gradient in F0 to find the location of a virtual target within a room for a food reward. Rabbits were initially trained to discriminate HCTs with F0s in the range 400-800 Hz and with harmonics covering a wide frequency range (800-16,000 Hz) and then tested with stimuli differing in spectral composition to test the role of harmonic resolvability (experiment 1) or in F0 range (experiment 2) or in both F0 and spectral content (experiment 3). Together, these experiments show that rabbits can discriminate HCTs over a wide F0 range (200-1,600 Hz) encompassing the range of conspecific vocalizations and can use either the spectral pattern of harmonics resolved by the cochlea for higher F0s or temporal envelope cues resulting from interaction between unresolved harmonics for lower F0s. The qualitative similarity of these results to human performance supports the use of rabbits as an animal model for studies of pitch mechanisms, providing species differences in cochlear frequency selectivity and F0 range of vocalizations are taken into account.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Understanding the neural mechanisms of pitch perception requires experiments in animal models, but little is known about pitch perception by animals. Here we show that rabbits, a popular animal in auditory neuroscience, can discriminate complex sounds differing in pitch using either spectral cues or temporal cues. The results suggest that the role of spectral cues in pitch perception by animals may have been underestimated by predominantly testing low frequencies in the range of human voice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph D. Wagner
- 1Eaton-Peabody Laboratories, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Boston, Massachusetts,3Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Alice Gelman
- 1Eaton-Peabody Laboratories, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Kenneth E. Hancock
- 1Eaton-Peabody Laboratories, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Boston, Massachusetts,2Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Yoojin Chung
- 1Eaton-Peabody Laboratories, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Boston, Massachusetts,2Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Bertrand Delgutte
- 1Eaton-Peabody Laboratories, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Boston, Massachusetts,2Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
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Richmond IC, Balluffi-Fry J, Vander Wal E, Leroux SJ, Rizzuto M, Heckford TR, Kennah JL, Riefesel GR, Wiersma YF. Individual snowshoe hares manage risk differently: integrating stoichiometric distribution models and foraging ecology. J Mammal 2021. [DOI: 10.1093/jmammal/gyab130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Herbivores making space use decisions must consider the trade-off between perceived predation risk and forage quality. Herbivores, specifically snowshoe hares (Lepus americanus), must constantly navigate landscapes that vary in predation risk and food quality, providing researchers with the opportunity to explore the factors that govern their foraging decisions. Herein, we tested predictions that intersect the risk allocation hypothesis (RAH) and optimal foraging theory (OFT) in a spatially explicit ecological stoichiometry framework to assess the trade-off between predation risk and forage quality. We used individual and population estimates of snowshoe hare (n = 29) space use derived from biotelemetry across three summers. We evaluated resource forage quality for lowbush blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium), a common and readily available forage species within our system, using carbon:nitrogen and carbon:phosphorus ratios. We used habitat complexity to proxy perceived predation risk. We analyzed how forage quality of blueberry, perceived predation risk, and their interaction impact the intensity of herbivore space use. We used generalized mixed effects models, structured to enable us to make inferences at the population and individual home range level. We did not find support for RAH and OFT. However, variation in the individual-level reactions norms in our models showed that individual hares have unique responses to forage quality and perceived predation risk. Our finding of individual-level responses indicates that there is fine-scale decision-making by hares, although we did not identify the mechanism. Our approach illustrates spatially explicit empirical support for individual behavioral responses to the food quality–predation risk trade-off.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabella C Richmond
- Department of Biology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John’s, NL, Canada
| | - Juliana Balluffi-Fry
- Department of Biology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John’s, NL, Canada
| | - Eric Vander Wal
- Department of Biology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John’s, NL, Canada
| | - Shawn J Leroux
- Department of Biology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John’s, NL, Canada
| | - Matteo Rizzuto
- Department of Biology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John’s, NL, Canada
| | - Travis R Heckford
- Department of Biology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John’s, NL, Canada
| | - Joanie L Kennah
- Department of Biology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John’s, NL, Canada
| | - Gabrielle R Riefesel
- Department of Biology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John’s, NL, Canada
| | - Yolanda F Wiersma
- Department of Biology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John’s, NL, Canada
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14
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Martin LF, Ackermans NL, Tollefson TN, Kircher PR, Richter H, Hummel J, Codron D, Hatt JM, Clauss M. Tooth wear, growth and height in rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) fed pelleted or extruded diets with or without added abrasives. J Anim Physiol Anim Nutr (Berl) 2021; 106:630-641. [PMID: 33982342 DOI: 10.1111/jpn.13565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2020] [Revised: 03/29/2021] [Accepted: 04/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Among the different factors thought to affect dental wear, dietary consistency is possibly the least investigated. To understand tooth wear of herbivorous animals consuming different dietary consistencies with different abrasive potential, we fed 14 rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) exclusively with a timothy grassmeal-based diet in either pelleted or extruded form, or the same diets with an addition of 5% fine sand abrasives (mean size 130 µm). First, we offered the rabbits the pelleted and extruded diets as well as the pelleted control and pelleted abrasive diet in a two-stage preference experiment. Then, the rabbits received each diet for 2 weeks in a randomised serial feeding experiment, where each animal served as its own control. Tooth measurements for wear, growth and height were achieved using a manual calliper, endoscopic examination and CT scans. The analysis of the diets as fed showed almost identical mean particle size, but the extruded diet had a lower density (volume/mass) and softer consistency compared to the pelleted one and was favoured by most rabbits. The rabbits selected against the diet with sand during the preference experiment, possibly because it caused more tooth wear, especially on the teeth most exposed to wear along the upper tooth row (upper P4 and M1). The maxillary teeth also showed evidence of an increased chewing laterality by the end of the experiment. The extruded diet led to a significantly lower cheek teeth height than the pelleted diet, potentially due to the higher chewing effort needed for a similar dry matter intake. The results suggest that dietary hardness alone is a poor predictor of dental wear. The regrowth of the teeth matched wear consistently.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louise F Martin
- Clinic for Zoo Animals, Exotic Pets and Wildlife, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Nicole L Ackermans
- Clinic for Zoo Animals, Exotic Pets and Wildlife, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Troy N Tollefson
- Mazuri® Exotic Animal Nutrition, PMI Nutrition International LLC, Saint Louis, MO, USA
| | - Patrick R Kircher
- Clinic for Diagnostic Imaging, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Henning Richter
- Clinic for Diagnostic Imaging, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Jürgen Hummel
- Department of Animal Sciences, Ruminant Nutrition, Georg-August University, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Daryl Codron
- Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa
| | - Jean-Michel Hatt
- Clinic for Zoo Animals, Exotic Pets and Wildlife, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Marcus Clauss
- Clinic for Zoo Animals, Exotic Pets and Wildlife, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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Mashapa C, Mhuriro-Mashapa P, Gandiwa E, Muboko N, Chinho T. The importance of buffer zones in woody vegetation conservation in areas that combine mega-fauna and anthropogenic disturbance: The case of Save Valley landscape, south-eastern Zimbabwe. Glob Ecol Conserv 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2021.e01503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022] Open
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16
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Grenier-Potvin A, Clermont J, Gauthier G, Berteaux D. Prey and habitat distribution are not enough to explain predator habitat selection: addressing intraspecific interactions, behavioural state and time. MOVEMENT ECOLOGY 2021; 9:12. [PMID: 33743833 PMCID: PMC7981948 DOI: 10.1186/s40462-021-00250-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2020] [Accepted: 03/01/2021] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Movements and habitat selection of predators shape ecological communities by determining the spatiotemporal distribution of predation risk. Although intraspecific interactions associated to territoriality and parental care are involved in predator habitat selection, few studies have addressed their effects simultaneously with those of prey and habitat distribution. Moreover, individuals require behavioural and temporal flexibility in their movement decisions to meet various motivations in a heterogeneous environment. To untangle the relative importance of ecological determinants of predator fine-scale habitat selection, we studied simultaneously several spatial, temporal, and behavioural predictors of habitat selection in territorial arctic foxes (Vulpes lagopus) living within a Greater snow goose (Anser caerulescens atlantica) colony during the reproductive season. METHODS Using GPS locations collected at 4-min intervals and behavioural state classification (active and resting), we quantified how foxes modulate state-specific habitat selection in response to territory edges, den proximity, prey distribution, and habitats. We also assessed whether foxes varied their habitat selection in response to an important phenological transition marked by decreasing prey availability (goose egg hatching) and decreasing den dependency (emancipation of cubs). RESULTS Multiple factors simultaneously played a key role in driving habitat selection, and their relative strength differed with respect to the behavioural state and study period. Foxes avoided territory edges, and reproductive individuals selected den proximity before the phenological transition. Higher goose nest density was selected when foxes were active but avoided when resting, and was less selected after egg hatching. Selection for tundra habitats also varied through the summer, but effects were not consistent. CONCLUSIONS We conclude that constraints imposed by intraspecific interactions can play, relative to prey distribution and habitat characteristics, an important role in the habitat selection of a keystone predator. Our results highlight the benefits of considering behavioural state and seasonal phenology when assessing the flexibility of predator habitat selection. Our findings indicate that considering intraspecific interactions is essential to understand predator space use, and suggest that using predator habitat selection to advance community ecology requires an explicit assessment of the social context in which movements occur.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexis Grenier-Potvin
- Chaire de recherche du Canada en biodiversité nordique and Centre d'Études Nordiques, Université du Québec à Rimouski, 300 Allée des Ursulines, Rimouski, Québec, G5L 3A1, Canada.
| | - Jeanne Clermont
- Chaire de recherche du Canada en biodiversité nordique and Centre d'Études Nordiques, Université du Québec à Rimouski, 300 Allée des Ursulines, Rimouski, Québec, G5L 3A1, Canada
| | - Gilles Gauthier
- Département de biologie and Centre d'études nordiques, Université Laval, 2325 Rue de l'Université, Québec, Québec, G1V 0A6, Canada
| | - Dominique Berteaux
- Chaire de recherche du Canada en biodiversité nordique and Centre d'Études Nordiques, Université du Québec à Rimouski, 300 Allée des Ursulines, Rimouski, Québec, G5L 3A1, Canada.
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17
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Gao VD, Morley‐Fletcher S, Maccari S, Vitaterna MH, Turek FW. Resource competition shapes biological rhythms and promotes temporal niche differentiation in a community simulation. Ecol Evol 2020; 10:11322-11334. [PMID: 33144967 PMCID: PMC7593148 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.6770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2020] [Revised: 08/02/2020] [Accepted: 08/06/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Competition for resources often contributes strongly to defining an organism's ecological niche. Endogenous biological rhythms are important adaptations to the temporal dimension of niches, but how other organisms influence such temporal niches has not been much studied, and the role of competition in particular has been even less examined. We investigated how interspecific competition and intraspecific competition for resources shape an organism's activity rhythms.To do this, we simulated communities of one or two species in an agent-based model. Individuals in the simulation move according to a circadian activity rhythm and compete for limited resources. Probability of reproduction is proportional to an individual's success in obtaining resources. Offspring may have variance in rhythm parameters, which allow for the population to evolve over time.We demonstrate that when organisms are arrhythmic, one species will always be competitively excluded from the environment, but the existence of activity rhythms allows niche differentiation and indefinite coexistence of the two species. Two species which are initially active at the same phase will differentiate their phase angle of entrainment over time to avoid each other. When only one species is present in an environment, competition within the species strongly selects for niche expansion through arrhythmicity, but the addition of an interspecific competitor facilitates evolution of increased rhythmic amplitude when combined with additional adaptations for temporal specialization. Finally, if individuals preferentially mate with others who are active at similar times of day, then disruptive selection by intraspecific competition can split one population into two reproductively isolated groups separated in activity time.These simulations suggest that biological rhythms are an effective method to temporally differentiate ecological niches and that competition is an important ecological pressure promoting the evolution of rhythms and sleep. This is the first study to use ecological modeling to examine biological rhythms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vance Difan Gao
- UMR 8576 Unité de Glycobiologie Structurale et FonctionnelleCNRSUniversity of LilleLilleFrance
- Center for Sleep and Circadian BiologyNorthwestern UniversityEvanstonILUSA
| | - Sara Morley‐Fletcher
- UMR 8576 Unité de Glycobiologie Structurale et FonctionnelleCNRSUniversity of LilleLilleFrance
- International Associated Laboratory (LIA) “Perinatal Stress and Neurodegenerative Diseases”University of LilleLilleFrance
| | - Stefania Maccari
- UMR 8576 Unité de Glycobiologie Structurale et FonctionnelleCNRSUniversity of LilleLilleFrance
- International Associated Laboratory (LIA) “Perinatal Stress and Neurodegenerative Diseases”University of LilleLilleFrance
- Department of Medico‐Surgical Sciences and BiotechnologiesUniversity Sapienza of RomeRomeItaly
| | | | - Fred W. Turek
- Center for Sleep and Circadian BiologyNorthwestern UniversityEvanstonILUSA
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18
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Wagnon CJ, Schooley RL, Cosentino BJ. Shrub encroachment creates a dynamic landscape of fear for desert lagomorphs via multiple pathways. Ecosphere 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.3240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Casey J. Wagnon
- Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences University of Illinois 1102 South Goodwin Avenue Urbana Illinois61801USA
| | - Robert L. Schooley
- Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences University of Illinois 1102 South Goodwin Avenue Urbana Illinois61801USA
| | - Bradley J. Cosentino
- Department of Biology Hobart and William Smith Colleges 300 Pulteney Street Geneva New York14456USA
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19
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Jimenez A, Schmalz J, Wright MN, Skopec MM. Sagebrush Characteristics Influencing Foraging Patterns of Pygmy Rabbits. J Wildl Manage 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/jwmg.21923] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Amber Jimenez
- Department of ZoologyWeber State University Ogden UT 84408 USA
| | | | - Masako N. Wright
- Ogden Ranger DistrictUnited State Forest Service Ogden UT 84401 USA
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20
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Vinterstare J, Hulthén K, Nilsson DE, Nilsson PA, Brönmark C. More than meets the eye: Predator-induced pupil size plasticity in a teleost fish. J Anim Ecol 2020; 89:2258-2267. [PMID: 33460050 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.13303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2020] [Accepted: 06/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Most animals are visually oriented, and their eyes provide their 'window to the world'. Eye size correlates positively with visual performance, because larger eyes can house larger pupils that increase photon catch and contrast discrimination, particularly under dim light, which have positive effects on behaviours that enhance fitness, including predator avoidance and foraging. Recent studies have linked predation risk to selection for larger eyes and pupils, and such changes should be of importance for the majority of teleost fishes as they have a pupil that is fixed in size (eyes lack a pupillary sphincter muscle) and, hence, do not respond to changes in light conditions. Here, we quantify eye and pupil size of individual crucian carp, a common freshwater fish, following controlled manipulations of perceived predation risk (presence/absence). We also tested if crucian carp responded to increased predation risk by shifts in diel activity patterns. We found that crucian carp show phenotypic plasticity with regards to pupil size, but not eye size, as pupil size increased when exposed to predators (pike). Predator-exposed crucian carp also shifted from diurnal to nocturnal activity. Using a modelling exercise, we moreover show that the plastically enlarged pupils significantly increase visual range, especially for small objects under dim light conditions. Overall, our results provide compelling evidence for predator-induced pupil enlargement resulting in enhanced visual capabilities in a teleost fish. Pupil size plasticity in combination with the observed shift towards nocturnal activity may allow for efficient foraging also under dark conditions when predation risk from diurnal and visually oriented predators is reduced. The data highlight the powerful role of predation risk for eye development and evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jerker Vinterstare
- Department of Biology, Aquatic Ecology Unit, Ecology Building, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Kaj Hulthén
- Department of Biology, Aquatic Ecology Unit, Ecology Building, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Dan E Nilsson
- Department of Biology, Lund Vision Group, Biology Building, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Per Anders Nilsson
- Department of Biology, Aquatic Ecology Unit, Ecology Building, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.,Department of Environmental and Life Sciences, Karlstad University, Karlstad, Sweden
| | - Christer Brönmark
- Department of Biology, Aquatic Ecology Unit, Ecology Building, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
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21
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Haase CG, Fletcher RJ, Slone DH, Reid JP, Butler SM. Traveling to thermal refuges during stressful temperatures leads to foraging constraints in a central-place forager. J Mammal 2019. [DOI: 10.1093/jmammal/gyz197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Central-place foragers can be constrained by the distance between habitats. When an organism relies on a central place for thermal refuge, the distance to food resources can potentially constrain foraging behavior. We investigated the effect of distance between thermal refuges and forage patches of the cold-intolerant marine mammal, the Florida manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris), on foraging duration. We tested the alternative hypotheses of time minimization and energy maximization as a response to distance between habitats. We also determined if manatees mitigate foraging constraints with increased visits to closer thermal refuges. We used hidden Markov models to assign discrete behaviors from movement parameters as a function of water temperature and assessed the influence of distance on foraging duration in water temperatures above (> 20°C) and below (≤ 20°C) the lower critical limit of the thermoneutral zone of manatees. We found that with increased distance, manatees decreased foraging duration in cold water temperature and increased foraging duration in warmer temperatures. We also found that manatees returned to closer thermal refuges more often. Our results suggest that the spatial relationship of thermal and forage habitats can impact behavioral decisions regarding foraging. Addressing foraging behavior questions while considering thermoregulatory behavior implicates the importance of understanding changing environments on animal behavior, particularly in the face of current global change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine G Haase
- School of Natural Resources and Environment, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Austin Peay State University, Department of Biology, Clarksville, TN, USA
- U.S. Geological Survey Wetland and Aquatic Research Center, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Robert J Fletcher
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Daniel H Slone
- U.S. Geological Survey Wetland and Aquatic Research Center, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - James P Reid
- U.S. Geological Survey Wetland and Aquatic Research Center, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Susan M Butler
- U.S. Geological Survey Wetland and Aquatic Research Center, Gainesville, FL, USA
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22
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van der Vinne V, Tachinardi P, Riede SJ, Akkerman J, Scheepe J, Daan S, Hut RA. Maximising survival by shifting the daily timing of activity. Ecol Lett 2019; 22:2097-2102. [PMID: 31617283 PMCID: PMC6899458 DOI: 10.1111/ele.13404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2019] [Accepted: 09/22/2019] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Maximising survival requires animals to balance the competing demands of maintaining energy balance and avoiding predation. Here, quantitative modelling shows that optimising the daily timing of activity and rest based on the encountered environmental conditions enables small mammals to maximise survival. Our model shows that nocturnality is typically beneficial when predation risk is higher during the day than during the night, but this is reversed by the energetic benefit of diurnality when food becomes scarce. Empirical testing under semi‐natural conditions revealed that the daily timing of activity and rest in mice exposed to manipulations in energy availability and perceived predation risk is in line with the model’s predictions. Low food availability and decreased perceived daytime predation risk promote diurnal activity patterns. Overall, our results identify temporal niche switching in small mammals as a strategy to maximise survival in response to environmental changes in food availability and perceived predation risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincent van der Vinne
- Chronobiology Unit, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, 9747 AG, the Netherlands
| | - Patricia Tachinardi
- Chronobiology Unit, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, 9747 AG, the Netherlands.,Departamento de Fisiologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, 05508, Brazil
| | - Sjaak J Riede
- Chronobiology Unit, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, 9747 AG, the Netherlands
| | - Jildert Akkerman
- Chronobiology Unit, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, 9747 AG, the Netherlands
| | - Jamey Scheepe
- Chronobiology Unit, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, 9747 AG, the Netherlands
| | - Serge Daan
- Chronobiology Unit, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, 9747 AG, the Netherlands
| | - Roelof A Hut
- Chronobiology Unit, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, 9747 AG, the Netherlands
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23
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Guignard MS, Crawley MJ, Kovalenko D, Nichols RA, Trimmer M, Leitch AR, Leitch IJ. Interactions between plant genome size, nutrients and herbivory by rabbits, molluscs and insects on a temperate grassland. Proc Biol Sci 2019; 286:20182619. [PMID: 30890100 PMCID: PMC6452068 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2018.2619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2018] [Accepted: 02/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Angiosperm genome sizes (GS) vary ca 2400-fold. Recent research has shown that GS influences plant abundance, and plant competition. There are also tantalizing reports that herbivores may select plants as food dependent on their GS. To test the hypothesis that GS plays a role in shaping plant communities under herbivore pressure, we exploit a grassland experiment that has experimentally excluded herbivores and applied nutrient over 8 years. Using phylogenetically informed statistical models and path analyses, we show that under rabbit grazing, plant species with small GS generated the most biomass. By contrast, on mollusc and insect-grazed plots, it was the plant species with larger GS that increased in biomass. GS was also shown to influence plant community properties (e.g. competitive strategy, total biomass) although the impact varied between different herbivore guilds (i.e. rabbits versus invertebrates) and nutrient inputs. Overall, we demonstrate that GS plays a role in influencing plant-herbivore interactions, and suggest potential reasons for this response, which include the impact of GS on a plant's response to different herbivore guilds, and on a plant's nutrient quality. The inclusion of GS in ecological models has the potential to expand our understanding of plant productivity and community ecology under nutrient and herbivore stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maïté S. Guignard
- School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road, London E1 4NS, UK
- Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey TW9 3DS, UK
| | - Michael J. Crawley
- Faculty of Natural Sciences, Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Silwood Park Campus, Buckhurst Road, Ascot, Berks SL5 7PY, UK
| | - Dasha Kovalenko
- School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road, London E1 4NS, UK
| | - Richard A. Nichols
- School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road, London E1 4NS, UK
| | - Mark Trimmer
- School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road, London E1 4NS, UK
| | - Andrew R. Leitch
- School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road, London E1 4NS, UK
| | - Ilia J. Leitch
- Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey TW9 3DS, UK
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24
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Weterings MJA, Ewert SP, Peereboom JN, Kuipers HJ, Kuijper DPJ, Prins HHT, Jansen PA, van Langevelde F, van Wieren SE. Implications of shared predation for space use in two sympatric leporids. Ecol Evol 2019; 9:3457-3469. [PMID: 30962905 PMCID: PMC6434570 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.4980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2018] [Revised: 11/11/2018] [Accepted: 11/14/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Spatial variation in habitat riskiness has a major influence on the predator-prey space race. However, the outcome of this race can be modulated if prey shares enemies with fellow prey (i.e., another prey species). Sharing of natural enemies may result in apparent competition, and its implications for prey space use remain poorly studied. Our objective was to test how prey species spend time among habitats that differ in riskiness, and how shared predation modulates the space use by prey species. We studied a one-predator, two-prey system in a coastal dune landscape in the Netherlands with the European hare (Lepus europaeus) and European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) as sympatric prey species and red fox (Vulpes vulpes) as their main predator. The fine-scale space use by each species was quantified using camera traps. We quantified residence time as an index of space use. Hares and rabbits spent time differently among habitats that differ in riskiness. Space use by predators and habitat riskiness affected space use by hares more strongly than space use by rabbits. Residence time of hare was shorter in habitats in which the predator was efficient in searching or capturing prey species. However, hares spent more time in edge habitat when foxes were present, even though foxes are considered ambush predators. Shared predation affected the predator-prey space race for hares positively, and more strongly than the predator-prey space race for rabbits, which were not affected. Shared predation reversed the predator-prey space race between foxes and hares, whereas shared predation possibly also released a negative association and promoted a positive association between our two sympatric prey species. Habitat riskiness, species presence, and prey species' escape mode and foraging mode (i.e., central-place vs. noncentral-place forager) affected the prey space race under shared predation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martijn J. A. Weterings
- Resource Ecology GroupWageningen UniversityWageningenThe Netherlands
- Department of Animal Management, Wildlife ManagementVan Hall Larenstein University of Applied SciencesLeeuwardenThe Netherlands
| | - Sophie P. Ewert
- Department of Animal Management, Wildlife ManagementVan Hall Larenstein University of Applied SciencesLeeuwardenThe Netherlands
| | - Jeffrey N. Peereboom
- Department of Animal Management, Wildlife ManagementVan Hall Larenstein University of Applied SciencesLeeuwardenThe Netherlands
| | - Henry J. Kuipers
- Department of Animal Management, Wildlife ManagementVan Hall Larenstein University of Applied SciencesLeeuwardenThe Netherlands
| | | | | | - Patrick A. Jansen
- Resource Ecology GroupWageningen UniversityWageningenThe Netherlands
- Smithsonian Tropical Research InstituteBalboaPanamá
| | - Frank van Langevelde
- Resource Ecology GroupWageningen UniversityWageningenThe Netherlands
- School of Life SciencesUniversity of KwaZulu‐NatalDurbanSouth Africa
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25
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Gaynor KM, Brown JS, Middleton AD, Power ME, Brashares JS. Landscapes of Fear: Spatial Patterns of Risk Perception and Response. Trends Ecol Evol 2019; 34:355-368. [PMID: 30745252 DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2019.01.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 236] [Impact Index Per Article: 47.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2018] [Revised: 01/15/2019] [Accepted: 01/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Animals experience varying levels of predation risk as they navigate heterogeneous landscapes, and behavioral responses to perceived risk can structure ecosystems. The concept of the landscape of fear has recently become central to describing this spatial variation in risk, perception, and response. We present a framework linking the landscape of fear, defined as spatial variation in prey perception of risk, to the underlying physical landscape and predation risk, and to resulting patterns of prey distribution and antipredator behavior. By disambiguating the mechanisms through which prey perceive risk and incorporate fear into decision making, we can better quantify the nonlinear relationship between risk and response and evaluate the relative importance of the landscape of fear across taxa and ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaitlyn M Gaynor
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management, University of California Berkeley, 130 Mulford Hall #3114, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA. https://twitter.com/@kaitlyngaynor%20
| | - Joel S Brown
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, 845 West Taylor Street (MC 066), Chicago, IL 60607, USA; Department of Integrated Mathematical Oncology, Moffitt Cancer Center, 12902 Magnolia Dr., Tampa, FL 33612, USA; These authors contributed equally to this work
| | - Arthur D Middleton
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management, University of California Berkeley, 130 Mulford Hall #3114, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; These authors contributed equally to this work
| | - Mary E Power
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of California Berkeley, 3060 Valley Life Sciences Building #3140, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; These authors contributed equally to this work
| | - Justin S Brashares
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management, University of California Berkeley, 130 Mulford Hall #3114, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
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26
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Gordon IJ, Prins HHT, Mallon J, Puk LD, Miranda EBP, Starling-Manne C, van der Wal R, Moore B, Foley W, Lush L, Maestri R, Matsuda I, Clauss M. The Ecology of Browsing and Grazing in Other Vertebrate Taxa. THE ECOLOGY OF BROWSING AND GRAZING II 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-25865-8_15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/05/2022]
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27
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Blanchard P, Lauzeral C, Chamaillé-Jammes S, Brunet C, Lec'hvien A, Péron G, Pontier D. Coping with change in predation risk across space and time through complementary behavioral responses. BMC Ecol 2018; 18:60. [PMID: 30572866 PMCID: PMC6302475 DOI: 10.1186/s12898-018-0215-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2018] [Accepted: 12/12/2018] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Our picture of behavioral management of risk by prey remains fragmentary. This partly stems from a lack of studies jointly analyzing different behavioral responses developed by prey, such as habitat use and fine-scale behavior, although they are expected to complement each other. We took advantage of a simple system on the Kerguelen archipelago, made of a prey species, European rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus, a predator, feral cat Felis catus, and a mosaic of closed and open foraging patches, allowing reliable assessment of spatio-temporal change in predation risk. We investigated the way such a change triggered individual prey decisions on where, when and how to perform routine activities. Results Rabbit presence and behavior were recorded both day and night in patches with similar foraging characteristics, but contrasted in terms of openness. Cats, individually recognizable, were more active at night and in closed patches, in line with their expected higher hunting success in those conditions. Accordingly, rabbits avoided using closed patches at night and increased their vigilance if they did. Both day and night, rabbits increased their use of closed patches as compared to open patches in windy conditions, thereby probably reducing the thermoregulatory costs expected under such harsh environmental conditions. Conclusions Overall, our data map the landscape of fear in this study system and indicate that prey habitat use and vigilance complement each other. Solely focusing on one or the other tactic may lead to erroneous conclusions regarding the way predation risk triggers prey decisions. Finally, future studies should investigate inter-individual variability in the relative use of these different types of complementary behavioral responses to perceived risk, along with the determinants and outcomes of such tactics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierrick Blanchard
- Laboratoire Evolution et Diversité Biologique, CNRS, UMR 5174, Université Toulouse III Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France.
| | - Christine Lauzeral
- Laboratoire Evolution et Diversité Biologique, CNRS, UMR 5174, Université Toulouse III Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France
| | - Simon Chamaillé-Jammes
- Centre d'Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive, UMR 5175, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Université de Montpellier, Université Paul Valéry Montpellier, Ecole Pratiques des Hautes Etudes (EPHE), 1919 Route de Mende, 34293, Montpellier Cedex 5, France
| | - Clément Brunet
- Laboratoire Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive, CNRS, UMR 5558, Université de Lyon, Université Lyon I Claude Bernard, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Arnaud Lec'hvien
- Laboratoire Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive, CNRS, UMR 5558, Université de Lyon, Université Lyon I Claude Bernard, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Guillaume Péron
- Laboratoire Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive, CNRS, UMR 5558, Université de Lyon, Université Lyon I Claude Bernard, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Dominique Pontier
- Laboratoire Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive, CNRS, UMR 5558, Université de Lyon, Université Lyon I Claude Bernard, Villeurbanne, France
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28
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Levy O, Dayan T, Porter WP, Kronfeld-Schor N. Time and ecological resilience: can diurnal animals compensate for climate change by shifting to nocturnal activity? ECOL MONOGR 2018. [DOI: 10.1002/ecm.1334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Ofir Levy
- School of Zoology; Tel Aviv University; Tel Aviv 69978 Israel
| | - Tamar Dayan
- School of Zoology; Tel Aviv University; Tel Aviv 69978 Israel
- The Steinhardt Museum of Natural History; Tel Aviv University; Tel Aviv 69978 Israel
| | - Warren P. Porter
- Department of Integrative Biology; University of Wisconsin; Madison Wisconsin 53706 USA
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29
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Lameris TK, Brown JS, Kleyheeg E, Jansen PA, van Langevelde F. Nest defensibility decreases home-range size in central place foragers. Behav Ecol 2018. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/ary077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Thomas K Lameris
- Department of Animal Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO), Droevendaalsesteeg, AB Wageningen, The Netherlands
- Theoretical and computational Ecology, Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics (IBED), University of Amsterdam, GE Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Joel S Brown
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
- Department of Integrated Mathematical Oncology, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Erik Kleyheeg
- Department of Animal Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO), Droevendaalsesteeg, AB Wageningen, The Netherlands
- Ecology and Biodiversity Group, Utrecht University, Padualaan, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Patrick A Jansen
- Resource Ecology Group, Wageningen University, Droevendaalsesteeg, PB Wageningen, The Netherlands
- Center for Tropical Forest Science, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Apartado, Balboa, Republic of Panamá
| | - Frank van Langevelde
- Resource Ecology Group, Wageningen University, Droevendaalsesteeg, PB Wageningen, The Netherlands
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30
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Weterings MJA, Moonen S, Prins HHT, van Wieren SE, van Langevelde F. Food quality and quantity are more important in explaining foraging of an intermediate-sized mammalian herbivore than predation risk or competition. Ecol Evol 2018; 8:8419-8432. [PMID: 30250712 PMCID: PMC6144975 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.4372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2017] [Revised: 04/22/2018] [Accepted: 06/20/2018] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
During times of high activity by predators and competitors, herbivores may be forced to forage in patches of low-quality food. However, the relative importance in determining where and what herbivores forage still remains unclear, especially for small- and intermediate-sized herbivores. Our objective was to test the relative importance of predator and competitor activity, and forage quality and quantity on the proportion of time spent in a vegetation type and the proportion of time spent foraging by the intermediate-sized herbivore European hare (Lepus europaeus). We studied red fox (Vulpes vulpes) as a predator species and European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) as a competitor. We investigated the time spent at a location and foraging time of hare using GPS with accelerometers. Forage quality and quantity were analyzed based on hand-plucked samples of a selection of the locally most important plant species in the diet of hare. Predator activity and competitor activity were investigated using a network of camera traps. Hares spent a higher proportion of time in vegetation types that contained a higher percentage of fibers (i.e., NDF). Besides, hares spent a higher proportion of time in vegetation types that contained relatively low food quantity and quality of forage (i.e., high percentage of fibers) during days that foxes (Vulpes vulpes) were more active. Also during days that rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) were more active, hares spent a higher proportion of time foraging in vegetation types that contained a relatively low quality of forage. Although predation risk affected space use and foraging behavior, and competition affected foraging behavior, our study shows that food quality and quantity more strongly affected space use and foraging behavior than predation risk or competition. It seems that we need to reconsider the relative importance of the landscape of food in a world of fear and competition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martijn J. A. Weterings
- Resource Ecology GroupWageningen UniversityWageningenThe Netherlands
- Wildlife ManagementDepartment of Animal ManagementVan Hall Larenstein University of Applied SciencesLeeuwardenThe Netherlands
| | - Sander Moonen
- Resource Ecology GroupWageningen UniversityWageningenThe Netherlands
- Institute of Avian ResearchWilhelmshavenGermany
| | | | | | - Frank van Langevelde
- Resource Ecology GroupWageningen UniversityWageningenThe Netherlands
- School of Life SciencesUniversity of KwaZulu‐NatalDurbanSouth Africa
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31
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van der Veen DR, Riede SJ, Heideman PD, Hau M, van der Vinne V, Hut RA. Flexible clock systems: adjusting the temporal programme. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2018; 372:rstb.2016.0254. [PMID: 28993498 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2016.0254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/24/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Under natural conditions, many aspects of the abiotic and biotic environment vary with time of day, season or even era, while these conditions are typically kept constant in laboratory settings. The timing information contained within the environment serves as critical timing cues for the internal biological timing system, but how this system drives daily rhythms in behaviour and physiology may also depend on the internal state of the animal. The disparity between timing of these cues in natural and laboratory conditions can result in substantial differences in the scheduling of behaviour and physiology under these conditions. In nature, temporal coordination of biological processes is critical to maximize fitness because they optimize the balance between reproduction, foraging and predation risk. Here we focus on the role of peripheral circadian clocks, and the rhythms that they drive, in enabling adaptive phenotypes. We discuss how reproduction, endocrine activity and metabolism interact with peripheral clocks, and outline the complex phenotypes arising from changes in this system. We conclude that peripheral timing is critical to adaptive plasticity of circadian organization in the field, and that we must abandon standard laboratory conditions to understand the mechanisms that underlie this plasticity which maximizes fitness under natural conditions.This article is part of the themed issue 'Wild clocks: integrating chronobiology and ecology to understand timekeeping in free-living animals'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daan R van der Veen
- School of Biosciences and Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, UK
| | - Sjaak J Riede
- Chronobiology Unit, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Paul D Heideman
- Department of Biology, College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, VA, USA
| | - Michaela Hau
- Max-Planck-Institute for Ornithology, Seewiesen, Germany and University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
| | - Vincent van der Vinne
- Neurobiology Department, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Roelof A Hut
- Chronobiology Unit, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
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32
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Camp MJ, Shipley LA, Johnson TR, Olsoy PJ, Forbey JS, Rachlow JL, Thornton DH. The balancing act of foraging: mammalian herbivores trade-off multiple risks when selecting food patches. Oecologia 2017; 185:537-549. [PMID: 28963624 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-017-3957-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2016] [Accepted: 09/06/2017] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Animals face multiple risks while foraging such as the risk of acquiring inadequate energy from food and the risk of predation. We evaluated how two sympatric rabbits (pygmy rabbits, Brachylagus idahoensis, and mountain cottontail rabbits, Sylvilagus nuttallii) that differ in size, use of burrows, and habitat specialization in the sagebrush-steppe of western North America respond to different types and levels of perceived risks (i.e., fitness cost × probability of occurrence), including fiber and toxins in food, exposure to predation, and distance from a refuge. We measured food intake by the rabbits at paired food patches that varied in these risks and used the method of paired comparisons to create a relative ranking of habitat cues, which revealed an animal's perceived risk on a single scale representing an integrated response to a variety of risks. Pygmy rabbits perceived exposure to predation risk and distance from a burrow as riskier than did cottontails, whereas cottontails perceived dietary toxin as riskier. Pygmy rabbits consumed lower quality food, containing higher fiber or toxins, thereby avoided feeding in exposed patches or traveling far from their burrow to forage. In contrast, cottontails fed in exposed patches and traveled farther from the burrow to obtain higher quality food. We have shown how risks can be integrated into a single model that allows animals to reveal their perceptions of risks on a single scale that can be used to create a spatially explicit landscape of risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- M J Camp
- School of the Environment, Washington State University, Pullman, USA.
| | - L A Shipley
- School of the Environment, Washington State University, Pullman, USA
| | - T R Johnson
- Department of Statistical Science, University of Idaho, Moscow, USA
| | - P J Olsoy
- School of the Environment, Washington State University, Pullman, USA
| | - J S Forbey
- Department of Biological Sciences, Boise State University, Boise, USA
| | - J L Rachlow
- Department of Fish and Wildlife Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow, USA
| | - D H Thornton
- School of the Environment, Washington State University, Pullman, USA
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33
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Abstract
Because most research on rabbit husbandry, welfare, and nutrition was performed on production animals, evidence for best practices in pet rabbits is scarce, and guidelines must be based on transfer of results, deduction, and common sense. Rabbits benefit from being kept with at least one conspecific; from large enclosures and multistory hutches; from drinking water offered ad libitum in open dish drinker systems; and from receiving hay ad libitum, with restricted amounts of fresh grass, herbs, or green leafy vegetables, and a high-fiber complete diet. Offering hay ad libitum bears several advantages and should be considered a matter of course.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcus Clauss
- Clinic for Zoo Animals, Exotic Pets and Wildlife, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 260, Zurich 8057, Switzerland.
| | - Jean-Michel Hatt
- Clinic for Zoo Animals, Exotic Pets and Wildlife, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 260, Zurich 8057, Switzerland
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Hui TY, Williams GA. Experience matters: context-dependent decisions explain spatial foraging patterns in the deposit-feeding crab Scopimera intermedia. Proc Biol Sci 2017; 284:rspb.2017.1442. [PMID: 28855371 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2017.1442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2017] [Accepted: 07/19/2017] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Behavioural decisions are often context-dependent, where information from immediate experience is incorporated into an individual's decision-making, particularly in complex environments. To test whether such mechanism is adopted by foragers in heterogeneous environments, we investigated the foraging behaviour of the deposit-feeding sand-bubbler crab, Scopimera intermedia An individual-based model was constructed, based on an optimal-patch selection criterion, which implicitly assumed that individuals adjust foraging decisions based on immediate past experience. The model's predictions were tested on the shore by manipulating the location of food patches, where the crab showed a strong context-dependent foraging pattern. When resources were randomly distributed, the crab responded by spending 56% of time in enriched patches compared with only 28% in the same area when patches were composed of natural sediments. Shore manipulations varying resource distribution supported the underlying principles of the model mechanism, and highlighted the benefits of such a strategy in heterogeneous environments such as intertidal sediments where food resources vary at different spatial and temporal scales. The proposed model therefore provides a mechanistic process, based on optimal foraging, to predict foraging decisions and movement patterns of animals feeding in heterogeneous landscapes.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Y Hui
- The Swire Institute of Marine Science and School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong SAR, People's Republic of China
| | - Gray A Williams
- The Swire Institute of Marine Science and School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong SAR, People's Republic of China
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35
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Lush L, Ward AI, Wheeler P. Dietary niche partitioning between sympatric brown hares and rabbits. J Zool (1987) 2017. [DOI: 10.1111/jzo.12461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- L. Lush
- Centre for Environmental and Marine Sciences University of Hull Scarborough UK
| | - A. I. Ward
- School of Biological, Biomedical and Environmental Sciences University of Hull Hull UK
| | - P. Wheeler
- Centre for Environmental and Marine Sciences University of Hull Scarborough UK
- Department of Environment, Earth and Ecosystems The Open University Milton Keynes UK
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36
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Riede SJ, van der Vinne V, Hut RA. The flexible clock: predictive and reactive homeostasis, energy balance and the circadian regulation of sleep–wake timing. J Exp Biol 2017; 220:738-749. [DOI: 10.1242/jeb.130757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
ABSTRACT
The Darwinian fitness of mammals living in a rhythmic environment depends on endogenous daily (circadian) rhythms in behavior and physiology. Here, we discuss the mechanisms underlying the circadian regulation of physiology and behavior in mammals. We also review recent efforts to understand circadian flexibility, such as how the phase of activity and rest is altered depending on the encountered environment. We explain why shifting activity to the day is an adaptive strategy to cope with energetic challenges and show how this can reduce thermoregulatory costs. A framework is provided to make predictions about the optimal timing of activity and rest of non-model species for a wide range of habitats. This Review illustrates how the timing of daily rhythms is reciprocally linked to energy homeostasis, and it highlights the importance of this link in understanding daily rhythms in physiology and behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sjaak J. Riede
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, Chronobiology Unit, University of Groningen, Groningen 9747AG, The Netherlands
| | - Vincent van der Vinne
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, Chronobiology Unit, University of Groningen, Groningen 9747AG, The Netherlands
| | - Roelof A. Hut
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, Chronobiology Unit, University of Groningen, Groningen 9747AG, The Netherlands
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37
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Mott R, Herrod A, Clarke RH. Interpopulation resource partitioning of Lesser Frigatebirds and the influence of environmental context. Ecol Evol 2016; 6:8583-8594. [PMID: 28031809 PMCID: PMC5167043 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.2565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2016] [Revised: 09/22/2016] [Accepted: 10/01/2016] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Conspecific individuals inhabiting nearby breeding colonies are expected to compete strongly for food resources owing to the constraints imposed by shared morphology, physiology, and behavior on foraging strategy. Consequently, colony‐specific foraging patterns that effectively partition the available resources may be displayed. This study aimed to determine whether intraspecific resource partitioning occurs in two nearby colonies of Lesser Frigatebirds (Fregata ariel). A combination of stable isotope analysis and GPS tracking was used to assess dietary and spatial partitioning of foraging resources during the 2013 and 2014 breeding seasons. These results were compared to vessel‐derived estimates of prey availability, local primary productivity, and estimates of reproductive output to suggest potential drivers and implications of any observed partitioning. Isotopic data indicated a more neritic source of provisioned resources for near‐fledged chicks at an inshore colony, whereas their offshore counterparts were provisioned with resources with a more pelagic signal. Deep pelagic waters (>200 m) had higher availability of a preferred prey type despite a trend for lower primary productivity. Differences in foraging ecology between the two populations may have contributed to markedly different reproductive outputs. These findings suggest environmental context influences dietary and spatial aspects of foraging ecology. Furthermore, the effect of colony‐specific foraging patterns on population demography warrants further research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rowan Mott
- School of Biological Sciences Monash University Clayton Vic. Australia
| | - Ashley Herrod
- School of Biological Sciences Monash University Clayton Vic. Australia
| | - Rohan H Clarke
- School of Biological Sciences Monash University Clayton Vic. Australia
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38
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Shuai LY, Zhang ZR, Zeng ZG. When should I be aggressive? A state-dependent foraging game between competitors. Behav Ecol 2016. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arw169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
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39
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Benkwitt CE. Central‐place foraging and ecological effects of an invasive predator across multiple habitats. Ecology 2016; 97:2729-2739. [DOI: 10.1002/ecy.1477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2015] [Revised: 04/26/2016] [Accepted: 05/05/2016] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Cassandra E. Benkwitt
- Department of Integrative Biology Oregon State University Corvallis Oregon 97331 USA
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40
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Utz JL, Shipley LA, Rachlow JL, Johnstone-Yellin T, Camp M, Forbey JS. Understanding tradeoffs between food and predation risks in a specialist mammalian herbivore. WILDLIFE BIOLOGY 2016. [DOI: 10.2981/wlb.00121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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41
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Crowell MM, Shipley LA, Camp MJ, Rachlow JL, Forbey JS, Johnson TR. Selection of food patches by sympatric herbivores in response to concealment and distance from a refuge. Ecol Evol 2016; 6:2865-76. [PMID: 27069587 PMCID: PMC4803802 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.1940] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2015] [Revised: 12/12/2015] [Accepted: 12/14/2015] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Small herbivores face risks of predation while foraging and are often forced to trade off food quality for safety. Life history, behaviour, and habitat of predator and prey can influence these trade-offs. We compared how two sympatric rabbits (pygmy rabbit, Brachylagus idahoensis; mountain cottontail, Sylvilagus nuttallii) that differ in size, use of burrows, and habitat specialization in the sagebrush-steppe of western North America respond to amount and orientation of concealment cover and proximity to burrow refuges when selecting food patches. We predicted that both rabbit species would prefer food patches that offered greater concealment and food patches that were closer to burrow refuges. However, because pygmy rabbits are small, obligate burrowers that are restricted to sagebrush habitats, we predicted that they would show stronger preferences for greater cover, orientation of concealment, and patches closer to burrow refuges. We offered two food patches to individuals of each species during three experiments that either varied in the amount of concealment cover, orientation of concealment cover, or distance from a burrow refuge. Both species preferred food patches that offered greater concealment, but pygmy rabbits generally preferred terrestrial and mountain cottontails preferred aerial concealment. Only pygmy rabbits preferred food patches closer to their burrow refuge. Different responses to concealment and proximity to burrow refuges by the two species likely reflect differences in perceived predation risks. Because terrestrial predators are able to dig for prey in burrows, animals like pygmy rabbits that rely on burrow refuges might select food patches based more on terrestrial concealment. In contrast, larger habitat generalists that do not rely on burrow refuges, like mountain cottontails, might trade off terrestrial concealment for visibility to detect approaching terrestrial predators. This study suggests that body size and evolutionary adaptations for using habitat, even in closely related species, might influence anti-predator behaviors in prey species.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lisa A. Shipley
- School of the EnvironmentWashington State UniversityPullmanWashington
| | - Meghan J. Camp
- School of the EnvironmentWashington State UniversityPullmanWashington
| | - Janet L. Rachlow
- Department of Fish and Wildlife SciencesUniversity of IdahoMoscowIdaho
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42
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Camp MJ, Shipley LA, Johnson TR, Forbey JS, Rachlow JL, Crowell MM. Modeling trade-offs between plant fiber and toxins: a framework for quantifying risks perceived by foraging herbivores. Ecology 2016; 96:3292-302. [PMID: 26909434 DOI: 10.1890/14-2412.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
When selecting habitats, herbivores must weigh multiple risks, such as predation, starvation, toxicity, and thermal stress, forcing them to make fitness trade-offs. Here, we applied the method of paired comparisons (PC) to investigate how herbivores make trade-offs between habitat features that influence selection of food patches. The method of PC measures utility and the inverse of utility, relative risk, and makes trade-offs and indifferences explicit by forcing animals to make choices between two patches with different types of risks. Using a series of paired-choice experiments to titrate the equivalence curve and find the marginal rate of substitution for one risk over the other, we evaluated how toxin-tolerant (pygmy rabbit Brachylagus idahoensis) and fiber-tolerant (mountain cottontail rabbit Sylviagus nuttallii) herbivores differed in their hypothesized perceived risk of fiber and toxins in food. Pygmy rabbits were willing to consume nearly five times more of the toxin 1,8-cineole in their diets to avoid consuming higher levels of fiber than were mountain cottontails. Fiber posed a greater relative risk for pygmy rabbits than cottontails and cineole a greater risk for cottontails than pygmy rabbits. Our flexible modeling approach can be used to (1) quantify how animals evaluate and trade off multiple habitat attributes when the benefits and risks are difficult to quantify, and (2) integrate diverse risks that influence fitness and habitat selection into a single index of habitat value. This index potentially could be applied to landscapes to predict habitat selection across several scales.
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43
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Blanchard P, Lauzeral C, Chamaillé-Jammes S, Yoccoz NG, Pontier D. Analyzing the proximity to cover in a landscape of fear: a new approach applied to fine-scale habitat use by rabbits facing feral cat predation on Kerguelen archipelago. PeerJ 2016; 4:e1769. [PMID: 26989615 PMCID: PMC4793317 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.1769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2015] [Accepted: 02/16/2016] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Although proximity to cover has been routinely considered as an explanatory variable in studies investigating prey behavioral adjustments to predation pressure, the way it shapes risk perception still remains equivocal. This paradox arises from both the ambivalent nature of cover as potentially both obstructive and protective, making its impact on risk perception complex and context-dependent, and from the choice of the proxy used to measure proximity to cover in the field, which leads to an incomplete picture of the landscape of fear experienced by the prey. Here, we study a simple predator-prey-habitat system, i.e., rabbits Oryctolagus cuniculus facing feral cat Felis catus predation on Kerguelen archipelago. We assess how cover shapes risk perception in prey and develop an easily implementable field method to improve the estimation of proximity to cover. In contrast to protocols considering the “distance to nearest cover”, we focus on the overall “area to cover”. We show that fine-scale habitat use by rabbits is clearly related to our measure, in accordance with our hypothesis of higher risk in patches with smaller area to cover in this predator-prey-habitat system. In contrast, classical measures of proximity to cover are not retained in the best predictive models of habitat use. The use of this new approach, together with a more in-depth consideration of contrasting properties of cover, could help to better understand the role of this complex yet decisive parameter for predator-prey ecology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierrick Blanchard
- Université de Toulouse, Université Toulouse III Paul Sabatier, CNRS, ENFA, UMR 5174 (Laboratoire Évolution et Diversité Biologique) , Toulouse , France
| | - Christine Lauzeral
- Université de Toulouse, Université Toulouse III Paul Sabatier, CNRS, ENFA, UMR 5174 (Laboratoire Évolution et Diversité Biologique) , Toulouse , France
| | | | - Nigel G Yoccoz
- Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, The Arctic University of Norway , Tromsø , Norway
| | - Dominique Pontier
- Université de Lyon, Université Lyon I Claude Bernard, CNRS, UMR 5558 LBBE (Laboratoire Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive) , Villeurbanne , France
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44
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Mella VSA, Cooper CE, Davies SJJF. Effects of historically familiar and novel predator odors on the physiology of an introduced prey. Curr Zool 2016; 62:53-59. [PMID: 29491891 PMCID: PMC5804131 DOI: 10.1093/cz/zov005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2015] [Accepted: 01/30/2015] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Predator odors can elicit fear responses in prey and predator odor recognition is generally associated with physiological responses. Prey species are often more likely to respond to the odor of familiar rather than alien predators. However, predator naïvety in an introduced prey species has rarely been investigated. We examined the physiological response, as shown by changes in ventilatory variables, of an introduced terrestrial herbivore, the European rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus, in Australia, to the odor of potential predators and to control odors (distilled water and horse), to explore if responses were limited to historical (cat and fox) predators, or extended to historically novel predators (snake and quoll). All odors except distilled water elicited a response, with rabbits showing long-term higher respiratory frequencies and lower tidal volumes after introduction of the odors, indicating an increase in alertness. However, the intensity of the rabbits' reaction could not be directly linked to any pattern of response with respect to the history of predator-prey relationships. Rabbits exhibited significantly stronger reactions in response to both cat and quoll odors than they did to distilled water, but responses to horse, fox, and snake odor were similar to that of water. Our results show that the introduced rabbit can respond to both historical and novel predators in Australia, and suggest that shared evolutionary history is not necessarily a prerequisite to predator odor recognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina S. A. Mella
- Department of Environment and Agriculture, Curtin University, Perth, WA 6845, Australia
| | - Christine E. Cooper
- Department of Environment and Agriculture, Curtin University, Perth, WA 6845, Australia
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45
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Mabille G, Berteaux D, Thomas DW, Fortin D. Behavioural responses of wintering porcupines to their heterogeneous thermal environment. ECOSCIENCE 2015. [DOI: 10.2980/18-4-3413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
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46
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Stears K, Shrader AM. Increases in food availability can tempt oribi antelope into taking greater risks at both large and small spatial scales. Anim Behav 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2015.07.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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47
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The dilemma of foraging herbivores: dealing with food and fear. Oecologia 2014; 176:677-89. [DOI: 10.1007/s00442-014-3076-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2014] [Accepted: 09/02/2014] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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48
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Experimental evidence for enhanced top-down control of freshwater macrophytes with nutrient enrichment. Oecologia 2014; 176:825-36. [PMID: 25194349 PMCID: PMC4207960 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-014-3047-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2014] [Accepted: 08/11/2014] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
The abundance of primary producers is controlled by bottom-up and top-down forces. Despite the fact that there is consensus that the abundance of freshwater macrophytes is strongly influenced by the availability of resources for plant growth, the importance of top-down control by vertebrate consumers is debated, because field studies yield contrasting results. We hypothesized that these bottom-up and top-down forces may interact, and that consumer impact on macrophyte abundance depends on the nutrient status of the water body. To test this hypothesis, experimental ponds with submerged vegetation containing a mixture of species were subjected to a fertilization treatment and we introduced consumers (mallard ducks, for 8 days) on half of the ponds in a full factorial design. Over the whole 66-day experiment fertilized ponds became dominated by Elodea nuttallii and ponds without extra nutrients by Chara globularis. Nutrient addition significantly increased plant N and P concentrations. There was a strong interactive effect of duck presence and pond nutrient status: macrophyte biomass was reduced (by 50 %) after the presence of the ducks on fertilized ponds, but not in the unfertilized ponds. We conclude that nutrient availability interacts with top-down control of submerged vegetation. This may be explained by higher plant palatability at higher nutrient levels, either by a higher plant nutrient concentration or by a shift towards dominance of more palatable plant species, resulting in higher consumer pressure. Including nutrient availability may offer a framework to explain part of the contrasting field observations of consumer control of macrophyte abundance.
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Zengeya FM, Murwira A, De Garine-Wichatitsky M. Seasonal habitat selection and space use by a semi-free range herbivore in a heterogeneous savanna landscape. AUSTRAL ECOL 2014. [DOI: 10.1111/aec.12137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Fadzai M. Zengeya
- Department of Geography and Environmental Science; University of Zimbabwe; Harare Zimbabwe
| | - Amon Murwira
- Department of Geography and Environmental Science; University of Zimbabwe; Harare Zimbabwe
| | - Michel De Garine-Wichatitsky
- UPR AGIRs; Centre International de Recherche Agricole pour le Dévelopement; Montpellier France
- Research Platform Production and Conservation in Partnership; Department of Biological Sciences; University of Zimbabwe; Harare Zimbabwe
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Dynamics of herbivores and resources on a landscape with interspersed resources and refuges. THEOR ECOL-NETH 2014. [DOI: 10.1007/s12080-013-0210-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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