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Predation hazard and seed removal by small mammals: microhabitat versus patch scale effects
Michael A Bowers1, James L Dooley1
1Department of Environmental Sciences and Blandy Experimental Farm, University of Virginia, Clark Hall, 22903, Charlottesville, VA, USA.
Oecologia
|March 18, 2017
Summary
Small mammals like Peromyscus leucopus and Microtus pennsylvanicus alter habitat use to avoid predators, responding more to landscape patch features than microhabitats. Predation risk influences foraging behavior at multiple spatial scales.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Behavioral Ecology
- Landscape Ecology
Background:
- Prey species employ time and space-specific strategies for predator avoidance.
- Foraging individuals may alter microhabitat use or select sites based on larger habitat mosaic features to evade predators.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if predator avoidance in small mammals involves selection of small-, medium-, or large-scale landscape features.
- Investigate whether prey responses are at the microhabitat, habitat, or habitat patch scale.
Main Methods:
- Seed removal by Peromyscus leucopus and Microtus pennsylvanicus was measured across 474 stations in an experimental landscape of 12 patches.
- Experimental conditions included high (full moon) and low (new moon) predatory hazard levels.
Main Results:
- Seed removal rates varied more with whole patch features than with microhabitat variations within patches.
- Patch edge habitats were underutilized during high predatory hazard (full moon).
- Microhabitat effects on foraging were significant only when considered with larger landscape features; individuals on larger patches showed greater microhabitat/habitat use alteration.
Conclusions:
- Predator avoidance in small mammals is influenced by landscape patch-scale features more than microhabitat characteristics.
- Studies focusing solely on microhabitat use may underestimate the importance of predation and miss larger-scale behavioral responses.
- Understanding predator avoidance requires considering multiple spatial scales, from microhabitats to entire habitat patches.
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