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Wang G, Ma L, Wang L, Pang W. Independence Threat or Interdependence Threat? The Focusing Effect on Social or Physical Threat Modulates Brain Activity. Brain Sci 2024; 14:368. [PMID: 38672018 PMCID: PMC11047893 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci14040368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2024] [Revised: 04/04/2024] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The neural basis of threat perception has mostly been examined separately for social or physical threats. However, most of the threats encountered in everyday life are complex. The features of interactions between social and physiological threats under different attentional conditions are unclear. METHOD The present study explores this issue using an attention-guided paradigm based on ERP techniques. The screen displays social threats (face threats) and physical threats (action threats), instructing participants to concentrate on only one type of threat, thereby exploring brain activation characteristics. RESULTS It was found that action threats did not affect the processing of face threats in the face-attention condition, and electrophysiological evidence from the brain suggests a comparable situation to that when processing face threats alone, with higher amplitudes of the N170 and EPN (Early Posterior Negativity) components of anger than neutral emotions. However, when focusing on the action-attention condition, the brain was affected by face threats, as evidenced by a greater N190 elicited by stimuli containing threatening emotions, regardless of whether the action was threatening or not. This trend was also reflected in EPN. CONCLUSIONS The current study reveals important similarities and differences between physical and social threats, suggesting that the brain has a greater processing advantage for social threats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guan Wang
- The School of Psychology and Cognitive Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, China
- School of Education Science, Huaiyin Normal University, Huaian 223300, China
| | - Lian Ma
- School of Computer Science and Technology, Huaiyin Normal University, Huaian 223300, China
| | - Lili Wang
- School of Education Science, Huaiyin Normal University, Huaian 223300, China
| | - Weiguo Pang
- The School of Psychology and Cognitive Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, China
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2
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Of mice and cats: interspecific variation in prey responses to direct and indirect predator cues. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2023. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-022-03277-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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3
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Staab M, Achury R, Ammer C, Ehbrecht M, Irmscher V, Mohr H, Schall P, Weisser WW, Blüthgen N. Negative effects of forest gaps on dung removal in a full‐factorial experiment. J Anim Ecol 2022; 91:2113-2124. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.13792] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2022] [Accepted: 07/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Michael Staab
- Ecological Networks, Technische Universität Darmstadt Darmstadt Germany
| | - Rafael Achury
- Terrestrial Ecology Research Group, Technische Universität München Freising Germany
| | - Christian Ammer
- Silviculture and Forest Ecology of the Temperate Zones University of Göttingen Göttingen Germany
- Centre for Biodiversity and Sustainable Land‐use University of Göttingen Göttingen Germany
| | - Martin Ehbrecht
- Silviculture and Forest Ecology of the Temperate Zones University of Göttingen Göttingen Germany
| | - Veronika Irmscher
- Ecological Networks, Technische Universität Darmstadt Darmstadt Germany
| | - Hendrik Mohr
- Ecological Networks, Technische Universität Darmstadt Darmstadt Germany
| | - Peter Schall
- Silviculture and Forest Ecology of the Temperate Zones University of Göttingen Göttingen Germany
| | - Wolfgang W. Weisser
- Terrestrial Ecology Research Group, Technische Universität München Freising Germany
| | - Nico Blüthgen
- Ecological Networks, Technische Universität Darmstadt Darmstadt Germany
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Villalobos A, Schlyter F, Birgersson G, Koteja P, Löf M. Fear effects on bank voles (Rodentia: Arvicolinae): testing for repellent candidates from predator volatiles. PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE 2022; 78:1677-1685. [PMID: 34994055 PMCID: PMC9306653 DOI: 10.1002/ps.6787] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2021] [Revised: 12/23/2021] [Accepted: 01/07/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Arvicolinae rodents are known pests causing damage to both agricultural and forest crops. Today, rodenticides for rodent control are widely discouraged owing to their negative effects on the environment. Rodents are the main prey for several predators, and their complex olfactory system allows them to identify risks of predation. Therefore, the potential use of predators' scents as repellents has gained interest as an ecologically based rodent control method. In a two-choice experiment, we investigated the potential repellent effects of five synthetic predator compounds: 2-phenylethylamine (2-PEA), 2-propylthietane (2-PT), indole, heptanal and 2,5-dihydro-2,4,5-trimethylthiazoline (TMT), at 1% and 5% doses, using the bank vole (Myodes glareolus) as a rodent model. RESULTS The compound 2-PEA reduced both the food contacts and the time spent by voles in the treatment arm compared to the control arm. Likewise, 2-PT-treated arms reduced the food contacts, and the voles spent less time there, although this latter difference was not significant. Indole also showed a tendency to reduce the time spent at the treatment arm; however, this result was not significant. Unexpectedly, TMT had the reverse effect in showing attractive properties, possibly due to odor cues from differently sized predators and intraguild predation in nature. We found no dose-related effects for any compounds tested. CONCLUSION Our results suggest that the 2-PEA and 2-PT are both effective odor stimuli for triggering reduced food contacts and area avoidance, and they may be good repellent candidates. We suggest further testing of 2-PEA and 2-PT in field experiments to further determine their dose-efficiency as repellents against rodents in more natural environments. © 2022 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrian Villalobos
- Southern Swedish Forest Research CentreSwedish University of Agricultural SciencesLommaSweden
- Büsgen‐Institute, Department of Forest Zoology and Forest ConservationGeorg‐August‐Universität GöttingenGöttingenGermany
| | - Fredrik Schlyter
- Department of Plant Protection BiologySwedish University of Agricultural SciencesLommaSweden
- Excellent Team for Mitigation, Faculty of Forestry & Wood SciencesCzech University of Life Sciences PragueSuchdolCzech Republic
| | - Göran Birgersson
- Department of Plant Protection BiologySwedish University of Agricultural SciencesLommaSweden
| | - Paweł Koteja
- Institute of Environmental SciencesJagiellonian UniversityKrakówPoland
| | - Magnus Löf
- Southern Swedish Forest Research CentreSwedish University of Agricultural SciencesLommaSweden
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Fardell LL, Nano CEM, Pavey CR, Dickman CR. Small Prey Animal Foraging Behaviors in Landscapes of Fear: Effects of Predator Presence and Human Activity Along an Urban Disturbance Gradient. Front Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2022.805891] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Urban environments provide the only or best habitats that are left for wildlife in many areas, promoting increased interest in urban conservation and a need to understand how wildlife cope with urban stressors, such as altered predator activity and human disturbance. Here, we used filmed giving-up density experiments to investigate behavioral coping responses of foraging small prey animals at three sites (close, mid, and far) along an urban disturbance gradient. Our study design included “natural” and experimentally added stressor cues of predators and/or human disturbance. We observed small mammal foraging behaviors, particularly: the common brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula), northern brown bandicoot (Isoodon macrourus), brown antechinus (Antechinus stuartii), black rat (Rattus rattus), and brown rat (Rattus norvegicus), and to a lesser degree several species of native birds. We found that at the close urban-edge environment, coping responses to human disturbances were most pronounced, and predator cues from the red fox (Vulpes vulpes) were perceived as least risky. However, at the mid environment, red fox cues were perceived as most risky, especially when combined with human disturbance. At the far environment, domestic cat (Felis catus) cues were perceived as most risky, again when combined with human disturbance. Impacts from the combined stressors of predator and human disturbance cues appeared to be additive, with higher risk being perceived with increasing distance from urban build-up. Behavioral adjustments were observed to be the primary response to stressors by small prey animals in the close environment. In the mid environment, slight temporal shifts in activity across the night were more evident. In the far environment, habitat components were likely being used differently as the primary coping response to stressors. As mostly the same species were observed along the disturbance gradient, our results suggest a level of response plasticity that is calibrated to the level of exposure to a stressor and the stressor type. To maximize conservation outcomes in urban habitats, we therefore propose that management should be sensitive to the level and history of human disturbance, as this affects the coping responses of wildlife that remain.
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Odour-mediated Interactions Between an Apex Reptilian Predator and its Mammalian Prey. J Chem Ecol 2022; 48:401-415. [PMID: 35233678 PMCID: PMC9079038 DOI: 10.1007/s10886-022-01350-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2021] [Revised: 02/04/2022] [Accepted: 02/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
An important but understudied modality for eavesdropping between predators and prey is olfaction, especially between non-mammalian vertebrate predators and their prey. Here we test three olfactory eavesdropping predictions involving an apex reptilian predator, the sand goanna Varanus gouldii, and several species of its small mammalian prey in arid central Australia: 1) small mammals will recognize and avoid the odour of V. gouldii; 2) V. gouldii will be attracted to the odour of small mammals, especially of species that maximize its energetic returns; and 3) small mammals will be less mobile and will show higher burrow fidelity where V. gouldii is absent compared with where it is present. As expected, we found that small mammals recognized and avoided faecal odour of this goanna, feeding less intensively at food patches where the odour of V. gouldii was present than at patches with no odour or a pungency control odour. Varanus gouldii also was attracted to the odour of small mammals in artificial burrows and dug more frequently at burrows containing the odour of species that were energetically profitable than at those of species likely to yield diminishing returns. Our third prediction received mixed support. Rates of movement of three species of small mammals were no different where V. gouldii was present or absent, but burrow fidelity in two of these species increased as expected where V. gouldii had been removed. We conclude that olfaction plays a key role in the dynamic interaction between V. gouldii and its mammalian prey, with the interactants using olfaction to balance their respective costs of foraging and reducing predation risk. We speculate that the risk of predation from this apex reptilian predator drives the highly unusual burrow-shifting behaviour that characterizes many of Australia's small desert mammals.
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Beckmann S, Avila P, Farrell T. Effect of native and non-native snake scents on foraging activity of native rodents in Florida. J Mammal 2021. [DOI: 10.1093/jmammal/gyab124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Rodents use direct and/or indirect cues of predators to assess predation risk. The responses to these cues are well studied with regard to mammalian predators, but less understood with regard to reptilian predators. These responses are of particular importance in tropical and subtropical regions where reptile diversity is high and the likelihood of establishment of invasive reptilian predators also is high. We hypothesized that rodents would respond to direct scent cues of snake predators and that rodents would show greater aversion to scents of native snake predators than non-native snake predators. To assess this, scents of three snake species, two native and one non-native, and a non-snake control odor were distributed in Sherman live traps using a randomized block design. A total of 69 rodents representing four species were captured. Responses varied by species reinforcing that some species utilize indirect cues to assess predation risk, whereas others use direct cues. Moreover, one species (Neotoma floridana) showed a preference for non-native Python scent, indicating a lack of the appropriate anti-predator behavior, suggesting that some native rodents are more at risk of attack from invasive snakes than other native rodents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sean Beckmann
- Department of Biology, Stetson University, DeLand, FL, USA
| | - Paloma Avila
- Department of Biology, Stetson University, DeLand, FL, USA
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Ruiz-Tagle NM, Nogueira-Filho SLG, Knowles TG, Siqueira da Cunha Nogueira S. Using predator feces as a repellent for free-ranging urban capybaras (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris). Acta Ethol 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s10211-021-00377-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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Bedoya-Pérez MA, Le A, McGregor IS, Crowther MS. Antipredator responses toward cat fur in wild brown rats tested in a semi-natural environment. Behav Ecol 2021. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arab038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Sensitivity to predator-related cues and performance of antipredator behaviors are universal among prey species. Rodents exhibit a diverse suite of antipredator behaviors that have been examined in both field and laboratory studies. However, the results from the laboratory have not always translated to the field. While laboratory studies consistently indicate strong fear-inducing effects of cat fur/skin odors, it is unclear whether this occurs in the field with wild rats. To address this issue, we tested the antipredator responses of wild brown rats (Rattus norvegicus) to predatory (domestic cat fur) and nonpredatory (common brushtail possum fur) odor cues in a semi-natural experimental paradigm. Rats were housed in open air enclosures containing two feeding stations. Following several nights of acclimatization, the feeding stations were paired with cat fur, possum fur, or no fur. Rats spent less time at a feeding station that was paired with cat fur. Duration of time spent at feeding stations increased across consecutive test days and across hours within individual test nights, although the rate of increase within nights was lower for cat fur paired stations. This overall increase might reflect habituation of antipredator behaviors, increasing hunger, or loss of cue potency over time. We suggest that wild brown rats recognize and respond to cat fur odor cues, but their behavioral response is highly adaptable and finely tuned to the trade-off between predation risk and starvation that occurs across short temporal scales.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel A Bedoya-Pérez
- Brain and Mind Centre, 94 Mallett Street, Camperdown, New South Wales 2050, Australia
- Faculty of Science, School of Psychology, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales 2006, Australia
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Science road, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales 2006, Australia
| | - Anna Le
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Science road, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales 2006, Australia
| | - Iain S McGregor
- Brain and Mind Centre, 94 Mallett Street, Camperdown, New South Wales 2050, Australia
- Faculty of Science, School of Psychology, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales 2006, Australia
- The University of Sydney, Lambert Initiative for Cannabinoid Therapeutics, Brain and Mind Centre, 94 Mallett Street, Camperdown, New South Wales 2050, Australia
| | - Mathew S Crowther
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Science road, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales 2006, Australia
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Boughter JD, Fletcher M. Rethinking the role of taste processing in insular cortex and forebrain circuits. CURRENT OPINION IN PHYSIOLOGY 2021; 20:52-56. [PMID: 33681544 PMCID: PMC7932132 DOI: 10.1016/j.cophys.2020.12.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Over the years, many approaches towards studying the taste-responsive area of insular cortex have focused on how basic taste information is represented, and how lesions or silencing of this area impact taste-focused behaviors. Here, we review and highlight recent studies that imply that insular cortex does not contain a "primary" taste cortex in the traditional sense. Rather, taste is employed in concert with other internal and external sensory modalities by highly interconnected regions of insular cortex to guide ingestive decision-making, especially in context of estimating risk and reward. In rodent models, this may best be seen in context of foraging behaviors, which require flexibility and are dependent on learning and memory processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- John D. Boughter
- Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, 855 Monroe Ave., Memphis TN 38163 USA
| | - Max Fletcher
- Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, 855 Monroe Ave., Memphis TN 38163 USA
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11
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Wu R, Wu X, Li S, Li G, Jiang Z, Zhong H, Wang B, Yang S, Wei W. Predator odor exposure increases social contact in adolescents and parental behavior in adulthood in Brandt's voles. Behav Processes 2021; 186:104372. [PMID: 33667486 DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2021.104372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2021] [Revised: 02/25/2021] [Accepted: 02/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Research suggests that predation risk during adolescence can program adult stress response and emotional behavior; however, little is known about the short-term and lasting residual effects of this experience on social behavior. We explored this concept in social Brandt's voles (Lasiopodomys brandtii). Adolescent male and female voles were exposed to distilled water, rabbit urine (as a non-predator stimulus), and cat urine for 60 min daily from postnatal day (PND) 28-49. Social play tests were conducted immediately following exposure on PND 28, 35, 42, and 49. In the social play test, repeated cat odor (CO) exposure enhanced the contact behavior of voles with their cagemate. Adolescent exposure to CO did not affect behavioral responses toward unrelated pups in the alloparental behavior test or same-sex individuals in the social interaction test. However, exposure to CO significantly enhanced the licking/grooming behavior of voles towards their own pups in the home cage parental behavior test. Repeated CO exposure significantly inhibited weight gain in male voles during adolescence. This effect was transmitted to the next generation, with lower weight gain in offspring before weaning. Following repeated CO exposure, males tended to have more female offspring whereas females produced more offspring, suggesting an adaptive strategy to increase inclusive fitness under predatory risk. These findings demonstrate that adolescent exposure to predatory risk augments adolescent social contact and adult parental behavior and suggest a role for improved inclusive fitness in mediating long-term outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruiyong Wu
- Department of Animal Behavior, College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225009, China.
| | - Xueyan Wu
- Department of Animal Behavior, College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225009, China
| | - Shan Li
- Department of Animal Behavior, College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225009, China
| | - Guran Li
- Department of Animal Behavior, College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225009, China
| | - Ziyi Jiang
- Department of Animal Behavior, College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225009, China
| | - Haocheng Zhong
- Department of Animal Behavior, College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225009, China
| | - Bo Wang
- Genetic Engineering Laboratory, School of Biological and Environmental Engineering, Xi'an University of Arts and Science, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710065, China
| | - Shengmei Yang
- Department of Animal Behavior, College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225009, China
| | - Wanhong Wei
- Department of Animal Behavior, College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225009, China; Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225009, China.
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Behavioral Responses of Wild Rodents to Owl Calls in an Austral Temperate Forest. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11020428. [PMID: 33562286 PMCID: PMC7916001 DOI: 10.3390/ani11020428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2020] [Revised: 01/28/2021] [Accepted: 02/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Growing human populations are challenging scientists to find effective ways to control and mitigate human–wildlife conflict while preserving biodiversity. It has been reported that predator odor and calls can drive away rodents, but little is known about species-specific responses of prey. For these reasons, we compared the behavioral changes of common rodent species inhabiting the Chilean temperate forest (Abrothrix spp., the long-tailed pygmy rice rat Oligoryzomyslongicaudatus and the black rat Rattus rattus) when exposed to two different native predator calls (the austral pygmy owl Glaucidium nana and the rufous-legged owl Strix rufipes) and a control (no predator calls). Our results showed that all rodent species modified their behavior in the presence of predator calls, but the effects were species dependent. These findings point to the need to carefully study target rodent species instead of applying a general control plan for all rodent species. Abstract Ecologically based rodent management strategies are arising as a sustainable approach to rodent control, allowing us to preserve biodiversity while safeguarding human economic activities. Despite predator signals being known to generally repel rodents, few field-based studies have compared the behavioral effects of several predators on different prey species, especially in Neotropical ecosystems. Here, we used camera traps to study the behavior of rodent species native to the Chilean temperate forest (Abrothrix spp., long-tailed pygmy rice rat Oligoryzomys longicaudatus) and an introduced rodent (black rat Rattus rattus). Using playbacks of raptor calls, we experimentally exposed rodents to three predation risk treatments: austral pygmy owl calls (Glaucidium nana), rufous-legged owl calls (Strix rufipes) and a control treatment (absence of owl calls). We evaluated the effects of the treatments on the time allocated to three behaviors: feeding time, locomotor activity and vigilance. Moonlight and vegetation cover were also considered in the analyses, as they can modify perceived predation risk. Results showed that predator calls and environmental factors modified prey behavior depending not only on the predator species, but also on the rodent species. Consequently, owl playbacks could be regarded as a promising rodent control tool, knowing that future studies would be critical to deeply understand differences between species in order to select the most effective predator cues.
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Adduci LB, León VA, Schlötelburg A, Busch M, Fraschina J. Avoidance behaviour in laboratory house mice (Musmusculus) and Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus) towards predator odours. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0245441. [PMID: 33471855 PMCID: PMC7817039 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0245441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2020] [Accepted: 12/31/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Mus musculus and Rattus sp. are considered pest species because they reach high densities in urban areas, crop fields and food storage and productive systems such as breeding farms and orchards. Their control relies mainly on rodenticide application, but the effectiveness of this application is reduced due to behavioural responses and resistance. Novel methods are based on the use of chemical signals as odours that may be attractants, repellents or may reduce the reproductive success of pest species. The aim of this paper is to study the aversive effect of TMT, cat urine and cat body odour on predator-inexperienced Mus musculus and Rattus norvegicus under laboratory conditions. The experimental apparatus comprised three boxes connected by PVC pipes in a linear arrangement. In lateral boxes, odour sources or distilled water were introduced, while animals were placed in the central box at the beginning of the experiment. Rats showed freezing behaviour, reduced visits in the presence of TMT and cat fur. Mice reduced their visits with cat body and cat urine. This study provides evidence of the usefulness of using fear responses as a way to control rodent pests, which must be adapted to the environment and species to be applied.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luciana B. Adduci
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Departamento de Ecología, Genética y Evolución, Universidad de Buenos Aires and Instituto de Ecología, Genética y Evolución de Buenos Aires (IEGEBA), UBA-CONICET, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Intendente Güiraldes 2160—Ciudad Universitaria—C1428EGA, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Vanina A. León
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Departamento de Ecología, Genética y Evolución, Universidad de Buenos Aires and Instituto de Ecología, Genética y Evolución de Buenos Aires (IEGEBA), UBA-CONICET, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Intendente Güiraldes 2160—Ciudad Universitaria—C1428EGA, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Annika Schlötelburg
- Division of Land Use Systems, Humboldt-University of Berlin, Faculty of Life Science, Institute of Agriculture and Horticulture, Albrecht-Thaer-Weg, Berlin, Germany
| | - María Busch
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Departamento de Ecología, Genética y Evolución, Universidad de Buenos Aires and Instituto de Ecología, Genética y Evolución de Buenos Aires (IEGEBA), UBA-CONICET, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Intendente Güiraldes 2160—Ciudad Universitaria—C1428EGA, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Jimena Fraschina
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Departamento de Ecología, Genética y Evolución, Universidad de Buenos Aires and Instituto de Ecología, Genética y Evolución de Buenos Aires (IEGEBA), UBA-CONICET, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Intendente Güiraldes 2160—Ciudad Universitaria—C1428EGA, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
- * E-mail:
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Fardell LL, Bedoya-Pérez MA, Dickman CR, Crowther MS, Pavey CR, Narayan EJ. Are physiological and behavioural responses to stressors displayed concordantly by wild urban rodents? Naturwissenschaften 2021; 108:5. [PMID: 33411125 PMCID: PMC7790802 DOI: 10.1007/s00114-020-01716-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2020] [Revised: 12/09/2020] [Accepted: 12/21/2020] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Understanding wild animal responses to stressors underpins effective wildlife management. In order for responses to stressors to be correctly interpreted, it is critical that measurements are taken on wild animals using minimally invasive techniques. Studies investigating wild animal responses to stressors often measure either a single physiological or behavioural variable, but whether such responses are comparable and concordant remains uncertain. We investigated this question in a pilot study that measured responses of wild-caught urban brown and black rats (Rattus norvegicus, Rattus rattus) to fur-based olfactory cues from a predator, the domestic cat (Felis catus); a novel herbivore, the koala (Phascolarctos cinereus); and a familiar herbivore and competitor, the common brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula). Physiological responses, measured by assaying faecal glucocorticoid metabolites, were compared to behavioural responses observed via video recordings. We found that physiological and behavioural responses to stressors were expressed concordantly. There was no sizeable physiological response observed, and the behavioural response when considered across the night was negligible. However, the behavioural response to the predator and competitor cues changed across the observation period, with activity increasing with increasing hours of exposure. Our results indicate that responses of wild rodents to cues are nuanced, with stress responses modulated by behaviour changes that vary over time according to the severity of the perceived threat as animals gather further information. If the physiological response alone had been assessed, this moderated response may not have been evident, and in terms of wildlife management, vital information would have been lost.
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Affiliation(s)
- Loren L Fardell
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, 2006, Australia.
| | - Miguel A Bedoya-Pérez
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, 2006, Australia.,School of Psychology, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, 2006, Australia.,Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, 2006, Australia
| | - Christopher R Dickman
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, 2006, Australia
| | - Mathew S Crowther
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, 2006, Australia
| | - Chris R Pavey
- CSIRO, Land and Water, PMB 44, Winnellie, Northern Territory, 0822, Australia
| | - Edward J Narayan
- School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
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15
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Culshaw‐Maurer M, Sih A, Rosenheim JA. Bugs scaring bugs: enemy-risk effects in biological control systems. Ecol Lett 2020; 23:1693-1714. [PMID: 32902103 PMCID: PMC7692946 DOI: 10.1111/ele.13601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2020] [Revised: 06/30/2020] [Accepted: 08/13/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Enemy-risk effects, often referred to as non-consumptive effects (NCEs), are an important feature of predator-prey ecology, but their significance has had little impact on the conceptual underpinning or practice of biological control. We provide an overview of enemy-risk effects in predator-prey interactions, discuss ways in which risk effects may impact biocontrol programs and suggest avenues for further integration of natural enemy ecology and integrated pest management. Enemy-risk effects can have important influences on different stages of biological control programs, including natural enemy selection, efficacy testing and quantification of non-target impacts. Enemy-risk effects can also shape the interactions of biological control with other pest management practices. Biocontrol systems also provide community ecologists with some of the richest examples of behaviourally mediated trophic cascades and demonstrations of how enemy-risk effects play out among species with no shared evolutionary history, important topics for invasion biology and conservation. We conclude that the longstanding use of ecological theory by biocontrol practitioners should be expanded to incorporate enemy-risk effects, and that community ecologists will find many opportunities to study enemy-risk effects in biocontrol settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Culshaw‐Maurer
- Department of Entomology and NematologyUniversity of CaliforniaDavisCA95616USA
- Department of Evolution and EcologyUniversity of CaliforniaDavisCA95616USA
| | - Andrew Sih
- Department of Environmental Science and PolicyUniversity of CaliforniaDavisCA95616USA
| | - Jay A. Rosenheim
- Department of Entomology and NematologyUniversity of CaliforniaDavisCA95616USA
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16
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Best IN, Shaner PJL, Lo HY, Pei KJC, Kuo CC. Bigger doesn't mean bolder: behavioral variation of four wild rodent species to novelty and predation risk following a fast-slow continuum. Front Zool 2020; 17:27. [PMID: 32973911 PMCID: PMC7507744 DOI: 10.1186/s12983-020-00376-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2020] [Accepted: 09/14/2020] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Understanding how wild species respond to novel situations with associated risk can provide valuable insights for inter-specific behavioral variation and associations with pace-of-life (POL). Rodents, a globally distributed and diverse taxonomic group, have been the subjects of countless studies emulating risky situations. Controlled laboratory experiments with a focus on wild-caught species provide the opportunity to test fine-scale behavioral responses to contexts of risk with ecological implications. For example, assessing the importance of predator cues eliciting antipredator responses, as well as whether wild rodents embody behavioral plasticity and repertoires, illustrated by habituation and variation in behavioral traits, respectively. Results In this comparative study, we examined multiple behavioral responses of four rodent species in eastern Taiwan (three native species Mus caroli, Apodemus agrarius, Rattus losea, and one invasive, Rattus exulans) exposed to an unfamiliar microenvironment and novel cue from an allopatric predator, the leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis). All wild-caught animals were subjected to two consecutive nights of experimental trials in a laboratory setting. Behavioral responses to a novel situation during the first trial differed between species; smaller species investing more time in non-defensive behaviors compared to the larger species. More specifically, the smaller species M. caroli and A. agrarius allocated more time to exploration and foraging, whereas the larger rat species R. exulans and R. losea spent more time motionless or concealing. During the second trial, the addition of leopard cat cues did not elicit antipredator behaviors, but rather, rodents were found to exhibit increased non-defensive behaviors, specifically foraging efforts. Conclusions Our results suggest that these four species do largely follow a behavioral fast-slow continuum with the two smaller mice species demonstrating increased boldness in a novel context compared to the larger rat species. Also, the wild populations of rodents in eastern Taiwan may be naïve to leopard cats. Finally, the rodents in our study demonstrated habituation to the microenvironment, indicating they possess adaptive capacity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ian Nicholas Best
- Biodiversity Program, Taiwan International Graduate Program, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan.,Department of Life Sciences, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Pei-Jen Lee Shaner
- Department of Life Sciences, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | | | - Kurtis Jai-Chyi Pei
- Institute of Wildlife Conservation, College of Veterinary Medicine, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Neipu, Pingtung Taiwan
| | - Chi-Chien Kuo
- Department of Life Sciences, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei, Taiwan
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17
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Krijger IM, Gort G, Belmain SR, Groot Koerkamp PWG, Shafali RB, Meerburg BG. Efficacy of Management and Monitoring Methods to Prevent Post-Harvest Losses Caused by Rodents. Animals (Basel) 2020; 10:E1612. [PMID: 32917037 PMCID: PMC7552224 DOI: 10.3390/ani10091612] [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: 08/14/2020] [Revised: 08/31/2020] [Accepted: 09/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The presence of pest rodents around food production and storage sites is one of many underlying problems contributing to food contamination and loss, particularly influencing food and nutrition security in low-income countries. By reducing both pre- and post-harvest losses by rodents, millions of food-insecure people would benefit. As there are limited quantitative data on post-harvest rice losses due to rodents, our objectives were to assess stored rice losses in local households from eight rural communities and two rice milling factories in Bangladesh and to monitor the effect of different rodent control strategies to limit potential losses. Four treatments were applied in 2016 and 2017, (i) untreated control, (ii) use of domestic cats, (iii) use of rodenticides, (iv) use of snap-traps. In total, over a two-year period, 210 rodents were captured from inside people's homes, with Rattus rattus trapped most often (n = 91), followed by Mus musculus (n = 75) and Bandicota bengalensis (n = 26). In the milling stations, 68 rodents were trapped, of which 21 were M. musculus, 19 R. rattus, 17 B. bengalensis, 8 Rattus exulans, and 3 Mus terricolor. In 2016, losses from standardised baskets of rice within households were between 13.6% and 16.7%. In 2017, the losses were lower, ranging from 0.6% to 2.2%. Daily rodent removal by trapping proved to be most effective to diminish stored produce loss. The effectiveness of domestic cats was limited.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inge M. Krijger
- Livestock Research, Wageningen University & Research, 6700 AH Wageningen, The Netherlands;
- Farm Technology Group, Wageningen University & Research, P.O. Box 16, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands;
- Dutch Pest and Wildlife Expertise Centre (KAD), Nudepark 145, 6702 DZ Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Gerrit Gort
- Biometris, Wageningen University & Research, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands;
| | - Steven R. Belmain
- Natural Resources Institute, University of Greenwich, Central Avenue, Chatham Maritime, Kent ME4 4TB, UK;
| | - Peter W. G. Groot Koerkamp
- Farm Technology Group, Wageningen University & Research, P.O. Box 16, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands;
| | - Rokeya B. Shafali
- Association for Integrated Development-Comilla (AID-COMILLA), Raghupur, Rajapara, Jagannathpur, Comilla Sadar, Comilla 3500, Bangladesh;
| | - Bastiaan G. Meerburg
- Livestock Research, Wageningen University & Research, 6700 AH Wageningen, The Netherlands;
- Dutch Pest and Wildlife Expertise Centre (KAD), Nudepark 145, 6702 DZ Wageningen, The Netherlands
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18
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Garvey PM, Banks PB, Suraci JP, Bodey TW, Glen AS, Jones CJ, McArthur C, Norbury GL, Price CJ, Russell JC, Sih A. Leveraging Motivations, Personality, and Sensory Cues for Vertebrate Pest Management. Trends Ecol Evol 2020; 35:990-1000. [PMID: 32900547 DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2020.07.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2020] [Revised: 07/08/2020] [Accepted: 07/13/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Managing vertebrate pests is a global conservation challenge given their undesirable socio-ecological impacts. Pest management often focuses on the 'average' individual, neglecting individual-level behavioural variation ('personalities') and differences in life histories. These differences affect pest impacts and modify attraction to, or avoidance of, sensory cues. Strategies targeting the average individual may fail to mitigate damage by 'rogues' (individuals causing disproportionate impact) or to target 'recalcitrants' (individuals avoiding standard control measures). Effective management leverages animal behaviours that relate primarily to four core motivations: feeding, fleeing, fighting, and fornication. Management success could be greatly increased by identifying and exploiting individual variation in motivations. We provide explicit suggestions for cue-based tools to manipulate these four motivators, thereby improving pest management outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick M Garvey
- Manaaki Whenua - Landcare Research, PO Box 69040, Lincoln 7640, New Zealand.
| | - Peter B Banks
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Justin P Suraci
- Centre for Integrated Spatial Research, Environmental Studies Department, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
| | - Thomas W Bodey
- Environment and Sustainability Institute, Penryn Campus, University of Exeter, Penryn, Cornwall, TR10 9EZ, UK
| | - Alistair S Glen
- Manaaki Whenua - Landcare Research, Private Bag 92170, Auckland 1142, New Zealand
| | - Chris J Jones
- Manaaki Whenua - Landcare Research, PO Box 69040, Lincoln 7640, New Zealand
| | - Clare McArthur
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Grant L Norbury
- Manaaki Whenua - Landcare Research, PO Box 69040, Lincoln 7640, New Zealand
| | - Catherine J Price
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - James C Russell
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Andrew Sih
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA
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19
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Gaynor KM, Cherry MJ, Gilbert SL, Kohl MT, Larson CL, Newsome TM, Prugh LR, Suraci JP, Young JK, Smith JA. An applied ecology of fear framework: linking theory to conservation practice. Anim Conserv 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/acv.12629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Kaitlyn M. Gaynor
- National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis University of California, Santa Barbara Santa Barbara CA USA
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management University of California, Berkeley Berkeley CA USA
| | - Michael J. Cherry
- Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute Texas A&M University‐Kingsville Kingsville Texas USA
| | - Sophie L. Gilbert
- Department of Fish and Wildlife Sciences University of Idaho Moscow Idaho USA
| | - Michel T. Kohl
- Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources University of Georgia Athens Georgia USA
| | | | - Thomas M. Newsome
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences University of Sydney Sydney NSW Australia
| | - Laura R. Prugh
- School of Environmental and Forest Sciences University of Washington Seattle WA USA
| | - Justin P. Suraci
- Center for Integrated Spatial Research Environmental Studies Department University of California Santa Cruz CA USA
| | - Julie K. Young
- Predator Research Facility USDA‐National Wildlife Research Center Millville Utah USA
| | - Justine A. Smith
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management University of California, Berkeley Berkeley CA USA
- Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Conservation Biology University of California, Davis Davis CA USA
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20
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Zhang FS, Wang Y, Wu K, Xu WY, Wu J, Liu JY, Wang XY, Shuai LY. Effects of artificial light at night on foraging behavior and vigilance in a nocturnal rodent. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 724:138271. [PMID: 32268292 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.138271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2020] [Revised: 03/25/2020] [Accepted: 03/26/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Artificial light at night has greatly changed the physical environment for many organisms on a global scale. As an energy efficient light resource, light emitting diodes (LEDs) have been widely used in recent years. As LEDs often have a broad spectrum, many biological processes may be potentially affected. In this study, we conducted manipulated experiments in rat-proof enclosures to explore the effects of LED night lighting on behavior of a nocturnal rodent, the Mongolian five-toed jerboa (Allactaga sibirica). We adopted the giving-up density (GUD) method and camera video trapping to study behavioral responses in terms of patch use, searching efficiency and vigilance. With the presence of white LED lighting, jerboas spent less time in patches, foraged less intensively (with higher GUDs) and became vigilant more frequently, while their searching efficiency was higher than under dark treatment. Although both positive and negative effects of LEDs on foraging were detected, the net effect of LEDs on jerboas is negative, which may further translate into changes in population dynamics, inter-specific interaction and community structure. To our knowledge, this is the first field study to explore how LED lighting affect foraging behavior and searching efficiency in rodents. Our results may have potential implications for practices such as pest control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fu-Shun Zhang
- Grassland Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hohhot 010010, China
| | - Yun Wang
- College of Life Sciences, Huaibei Normal University, Huaibei 235000, China
| | - Ke Wu
- College of Life Sciences, Huaibei Normal University, Huaibei 235000, China
| | - Wen-Yan Xu
- College of Life Sciences, Huaibei Normal University, Huaibei 235000, China
| | - Jing Wu
- College of Life Sciences, Huaibei Normal University, Huaibei 235000, China
| | - Jun-Yao Liu
- College of Life Sciences, Huaibei Normal University, Huaibei 235000, China
| | - Xiao-Yin Wang
- College of Life Sciences, Huaibei Normal University, Huaibei 235000, China
| | - Ling-Ying Shuai
- College of Life Sciences, Huaibei Normal University, Huaibei 235000, China.
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21
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Bleicher SS, Kotler BP, Embar K. Ninja owl; Gerbils over-anticipate an unexpected flying predator. Behav Processes 2020; 178:104161. [PMID: 32505484 DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2020.104161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2020] [Revised: 05/30/2020] [Accepted: 06/01/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Foragers make decisions based on cues, information collected from their environment, processed into strategic behaviours. This information, processed in multiple regions of the brain, ultimately result in the production of stress hormones and visible changes in behaviour of animals - both reflexively to avoid depredation and strategically to avoid an encounter with the predator. In a common-garden experiment we tested how imperfect information from visual cues of a predator impacts foraging and apprehension of a desert rodent, the Egyptian gerbil (Gerbillus pyramidum). The gerbils were exposed to predation by barn owls (Tyto alba), one camouflaged on dark nights using black dye. Gerbils' response to the owls was measured using patch-use measured in giving-up densities (GUDs) and time spent in vigilance activity. Owl lethality was extrapolated from mean times spent in attacks and number of attempted strikes. Dyed owls attack-rate was lower and attack duration greater than those of the white owls. During the full moon, when dyed owls were visible, gerbils responded with extreme vigilance and minimal foraging (high GUDs). During the new moon when the owls were most stealthy, the gerbils showed low vigilance coupled with a similar high GUD. The inconsistency between gerbils' foraging and vigilance behaviours, suggest a likely mismatch between perceived risk and actual measurement of predator lethality gathered by the gerbils' observations in real time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonny Shlomo Bleicher
- Department of Biological Sciences, Washington and Lee University, Lexington, VA, USA; Department of Environmental Science and Policy, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, USA; Mitrani Department for Dryland Ecology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Sde Boker, Israel.
| | - Burt Philip Kotler
- Mitrani Department for Dryland Ecology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Sde Boker, Israel
| | - Keren Embar
- Mitrani Department for Dryland Ecology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Sde Boker, Israel
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22
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Frank SC, Blaalid R, Mayer M, Zedrosser A, Steyaert SMJG. Fear the reaper: ungulate carcasses may generate an ephemeral landscape of fear for rodents. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2020; 7:191644. [PMID: 32742677 PMCID: PMC7353961 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.191644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2019] [Accepted: 05/03/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Animal carcasses provide an ephemeral pulse of nutrients for scavengers that use them. Carcass sites can increase species interactions and/or ephemeral, localized landscapes of fear for prey within the vicinity. Few studies have applied the landscape of fear to carcasses. Here, we use a mass die-off of reindeer caused by lightning in Norway to test whether rodents avoided larger scavengers (e.g. corvids and fox). We used the presence and abundance of faeces as a proxy for carcass use over the course of 2 years and found that rodents showed the strongest avoidance towards changes in raven abundance (β = -0.469, s.e. = 0.231, p-value = 0.0429), but not fox, presumably due to greater predation risk imposed by large droves of raven. Moreover, the emergence of rodent occurrence within the carcass area corresponded well with the disappearance of raven during the second year of the study. We suggest that carcasses have the potential to shape the landscape of fear for prey, but that the overall effects of carcasses on individual fitness and populations of species ultimately depend on the carcass regime, e.g. carcass size, count, and areal extent, frequency and the scavenger guild. We discuss conservation implications and how carcass provisioning and landscapes of fear could be potentially used to manage populations and ecosystems, but that there is a gap in understanding that must first be bridged.
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Affiliation(s)
- S. C. Frank
- Faculty of Technology, Natural Sciences and Maritime Sciences, Department of Natural Sciences and Environmental Health, University of South-Eastern Norway, 3800 Bø i Telemark, Norway
| | - R. Blaalid
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, Thormøhlensgate 55, 5006 Bergen
| | - M. Mayer
- Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, 8410 Rønde, Denmark
| | - A. Zedrosser
- Faculty of Technology, Natural Sciences and Maritime Sciences, Department of Natural Sciences and Environmental Health, University of South-Eastern Norway, 3800 Bø i Telemark, Norway
- Department of Integrative Biology, Institute of Wildlife Biology and Game Management, University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - S. M. J. G. Steyaert
- Faculty of Technology, Natural Sciences and Maritime Sciences, Department of Natural Sciences and Environmental Health, University of South-Eastern Norway, 3800 Bø i Telemark, Norway
- Faculty of Biosciences and Aquaculture, Nord University, 7711 Steinkjer, Norway
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23
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Fardell LL, Pavey CR, Dickman CR. Fear and stressing in predator-prey ecology: considering the twin stressors of predators and people on mammals. PeerJ 2020; 8:e9104. [PMID: 32391213 PMCID: PMC7196326 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.9104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2019] [Accepted: 04/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Predators induce stress in prey and can have beneficial effects in ecosystems, but can also have negative effects on biodiversity if they are overabundant or have been introduced. The growth of human populations is, at the same time, causing degradation of natural habitats and increasing interaction rates of humans with wildlife, such that conservation management routinely considers the effects of human disturbance as tantamount to or surpassing those of predators. The need to simultaneously manage both of these threats is particularly acute in urban areas that are, increasingly, being recognized as global hotspots of wildlife activity. Pressures from altered predator-prey interactions and human activity may each initiate fear responses in prey species above those that are triggered by natural stressors in ecosystems. If fear responses are experienced by prey at elevated levels, on top of responses to multiple environmental stressors, chronic stress impacts may occur. Despite common knowledge of the negative effects of stress, however, it is rare that stress management is considered in conservation, except in intensive ex situ situations such as in captive breeding facilities or zoos. We propose that mitigation of stress impacts on wildlife is crucial for preserving biodiversity, especially as the value of habitats within urban areas increases. As such, we highlight the need for future studies to consider fear and stress in predator-prey ecology to preserve both biodiversity and ecosystem functioning, especially in areas where human disturbance occurs. We suggest, in particular, that non-invasive in situ investigations of endocrinology and ethology be partnered in conservation planning with surveys of habitat resources to incorporate and reduce the effects of fear and stress on wildlife.
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Affiliation(s)
- Loren L. Fardell
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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24
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Dynamic rodent behavioral response to predation risk: implications for disease ecology. Oecologia 2019; 192:67-78. [PMID: 31813024 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-019-04565-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2019] [Accepted: 11/22/2019] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Prey modify their behavior in response to variation in predation risk, and such modifications can affect trophic processes such as disease transmission. However, variation in predation risk is complex, arising from direct risk from the predator itself and indirect risk due to the environment. Moreover, direct risk typically stems from multiple predators and varies over timescales (e.g., a predator nearby vs. its seasonal activities). We implemented a field-based experiment to disentangle these sources of risk and relate them to antipredator behavior in rodents. We modeled rodent occurrence and activity as a function of short- and long-term risk from a primary predator, red foxes (Vulpes vulpes), long-term risk from a second predator, coyotes (Canis latrans), and environmental variables. We found that long-term red fox activity strongly reduced rodent occurrence and that cues of nearby red fox presence decreased rodent activity by > 50%. In addition, this activity reduction was dynamic in that varied according to the background level of long-term red fox activity. Importantly, rodents did not respond to environmental variables (moonlight, temperature, and habitat) or long-term coyote activity. These results bear upon recent work that suggests predators can alter tick-borne disease dynamics via induced antipredator behavior of rodents, which are hosts for pathogens and ticks. Specifically, our study corroborates the hypothesis that red foxes act as important proximal agents in regulating tick-borne diseases by reducing rodent activity. More generally, this study highlights the need to consider the dynamic nature of prey antipredator response across landscapes with variable long-term predation risk.
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