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Patch use in time and space for a meso-predator in a risky world
Shomen Mukherjee1, Michal Zelcer, Burt P Kotler
1Mitrani Department of Desert Ecology, Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Sede Boqer 84990, Israel. shomen@bgu.ac.il
Oecologia
|December 17, 2008
Summary
Meso-predators like red foxes balance foraging with safety, adjusting patch use based on food availability and predation risk from hyenas and wolves. Their activity patterns shift with moonlight to minimize encounters with predators.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral Ecology
- Predator-Prey Dynamics
- Foraging Theory
Background:
- Traditional predator-prey models often overlook predation risk for intermediate predators (meso-predators).
- Meso-predators must balance the need for food with the risk of becoming prey themselves.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate patch use and habitat selection by red foxes, a meso-predator, using foraging theory.
- To determine how food availability and perceived predation risk influence red fox foraging decisions.
Main Methods:
- Applied foraging theory to study patch use and habitat selection in red foxes.
- Utilized experimental food patches to observe fox behavior and resource depletion.
- Assessed the influence of moonlight, hyena activity, and wolf scat presence on fox foraging.
Main Results:
- Red foxes exhibit a quitting harvest rate rule for patch abandonment and experience diminishing returns.
- Fox foraging behavior is significantly influenced by predation risk, notably from hyenas and wolves.
- Foxes altered foraging intensity based on moonlight (darker nights = more thorough depletion) and hyena activity (avoiding high-activity periods/areas).
- Presence of wolf scat led to significantly lower resource depletion, indicating avoidance behavior.
Conclusions:
- Predation risk is a crucial factor influencing meso-predator foraging strategies and habitat use.
- Foraging patch use theory is applicable to intermediate predators, highlighting the need to incorporate risk-averse behaviors.
- Understanding these dynamics is essential for a comprehensive grasp of trophic interactions within ecosystems.
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