Mammal responses to predator scents across multiple study areas
Abstract Antipredator behaviors allow prey to mitigate the impacts of their predators. We investigated antipredator responses of two herbivore species, roe deer and European hare, and one mesopredator, red fox, toward predation risk imposed by lynx and wolf. We collected data (using camera traps) on...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2022-08-01
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| Series: | Ecosphere |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.4215 |
| _version_ | 1828431534031372288 |
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| author | Peter Sunde Felix Böcker Geir Rune Rauset Petter Kjellander Monika Chrenkova Trine Munck Skovdal Suzanne van Beeck Calkoen Martin Mayer Marco Heurich |
| author_facet | Peter Sunde Felix Böcker Geir Rune Rauset Petter Kjellander Monika Chrenkova Trine Munck Skovdal Suzanne van Beeck Calkoen Martin Mayer Marco Heurich |
| author_sort | Peter Sunde |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Antipredator behaviors allow prey to mitigate the impacts of their predators. We investigated antipredator responses of two herbivore species, roe deer and European hare, and one mesopredator, red fox, toward predation risk imposed by lynx and wolf. We collected data (using camera traps) on visitation frequency and vigilance behavior to olfactory predator stimuli during 158 standardized scent trials in five areas across Europe, where lynx and wolves either occurred or had been absent for centuries. After a period without scent, trial sites were either marked with lynx or wolf urine, or butyric acid (unspecific scent used to contrast species‐specific scent responses). We expected the two herbivores to respond aversively (reduced visitation frequency, and increased vigilance) to predator urine, while red foxes (scavengers) might adopt a risk‐sensitive exploration strategy by increasing vigilance near predator urine without reducing visitation frequency. For all species, we expected stronger responses toward the ambush predator lynx than to the pursue predator wolf (cryptic predator hypothesis). If prey responds more strongly to predator stimuli when coexisting with the predator, we expected stronger reactions to predator urine in areas where predators occurred (naïve prey hypothesis). Roe deer significantly avoided lynx urine and butyric acid, but not wolf urine. However, roe deer visitation frequency did not differ between scent treatment with large carnivore urine and butyric acid (suggesting that roe deer generally avoid areas with unfamiliar scent), or between areas where large carnivores were present and absent. Hares did not significantly avoid predator urine. Red foxes were attracted to lynx urine in sympatry, but not in allopatry with large carnivores. They increased vigilance rates in the presence of lynx urine independent of sympatry/allopatry with large carnivores. These findings generally confirm our expectations of predator avoidance by herbivores, and attraction combined with increased vigilance of mesopredators. In all species, lynx urine elicited stronger responses than wolf urine (although not significantly different), which to some extent conforms to the cryptic predator hypothesis. We found no support for the naïve prey hypothesis. However, higher attraction of red foxes to lynx urine in sympatric situations might indicate that positive responses by scavengers are learning based. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-10T18:04:40Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0522328f978640ff8bc5134ab95fdf85 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2150-8925 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-10T18:04:40Z |
| publishDate | 2022-08-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ecosphere |
| spelling | doaj.art-0522328f978640ff8bc5134ab95fdf852022-12-22T01:38:38ZengWileyEcosphere2150-89252022-08-01138n/an/a10.1002/ecs2.4215Mammal responses to predator scents across multiple study areasPeter Sunde0Felix Böcker1Geir Rune Rauset2Petter Kjellander3Monika Chrenkova4Trine Munck Skovdal5Suzanne van Beeck Calkoen6Martin Mayer7Marco Heurich8Department of Ecoscience—Wildlife Ecology Aarhus University Aarhus DenmarkDepartment of Forest and Society Forest Research Institute Baden‐Württemberg Freiburg GermanyGrimsö Wildlife Research Station, Department of Ecology Swedish University of Agricultural Science Riddarhyttan SwedenGrimsö Wildlife Research Station, Department of Ecology Swedish University of Agricultural Science Riddarhyttan SwedenDepartment of Zoology, Faculty of Science University of South Bohemia České Budějovice Czech RepublicDepartment of Ecoscience—Wildlife Ecology Aarhus University Aarhus DenmarkDepartment of Visitor Management and National Park Monitoring Bavarian Forest National Park Grafenau GermanyDepartment of Ecoscience—Wildlife Ecology Aarhus University Aarhus DenmarkDepartment of Visitor Management and National Park Monitoring Bavarian Forest National Park Grafenau GermanyAbstract Antipredator behaviors allow prey to mitigate the impacts of their predators. We investigated antipredator responses of two herbivore species, roe deer and European hare, and one mesopredator, red fox, toward predation risk imposed by lynx and wolf. We collected data (using camera traps) on visitation frequency and vigilance behavior to olfactory predator stimuli during 158 standardized scent trials in five areas across Europe, where lynx and wolves either occurred or had been absent for centuries. After a period without scent, trial sites were either marked with lynx or wolf urine, or butyric acid (unspecific scent used to contrast species‐specific scent responses). We expected the two herbivores to respond aversively (reduced visitation frequency, and increased vigilance) to predator urine, while red foxes (scavengers) might adopt a risk‐sensitive exploration strategy by increasing vigilance near predator urine without reducing visitation frequency. For all species, we expected stronger responses toward the ambush predator lynx than to the pursue predator wolf (cryptic predator hypothesis). If prey responds more strongly to predator stimuli when coexisting with the predator, we expected stronger reactions to predator urine in areas where predators occurred (naïve prey hypothesis). Roe deer significantly avoided lynx urine and butyric acid, but not wolf urine. However, roe deer visitation frequency did not differ between scent treatment with large carnivore urine and butyric acid (suggesting that roe deer generally avoid areas with unfamiliar scent), or between areas where large carnivores were present and absent. Hares did not significantly avoid predator urine. Red foxes were attracted to lynx urine in sympatry, but not in allopatry with large carnivores. They increased vigilance rates in the presence of lynx urine independent of sympatry/allopatry with large carnivores. These findings generally confirm our expectations of predator avoidance by herbivores, and attraction combined with increased vigilance of mesopredators. In all species, lynx urine elicited stronger responses than wolf urine (although not significantly different), which to some extent conforms to the cryptic predator hypothesis. We found no support for the naïve prey hypothesis. However, higher attraction of red foxes to lynx urine in sympatric situations might indicate that positive responses by scavengers are learning based.https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.4215antipredator behavioravoidanceCanis lupusCapreolus capreolusintra‐guild predationlandscapes of fear |
| spellingShingle | Peter Sunde Felix Böcker Geir Rune Rauset Petter Kjellander Monika Chrenkova Trine Munck Skovdal Suzanne van Beeck Calkoen Martin Mayer Marco Heurich Mammal responses to predator scents across multiple study areas Ecosphere antipredator behavior avoidance Canis lupus Capreolus capreolus intra‐guild predation landscapes of fear |
| title | Mammal responses to predator scents across multiple study areas |
| title_full | Mammal responses to predator scents across multiple study areas |
| title_fullStr | Mammal responses to predator scents across multiple study areas |
| title_full_unstemmed | Mammal responses to predator scents across multiple study areas |
| title_short | Mammal responses to predator scents across multiple study areas |
| title_sort | mammal responses to predator scents across multiple study areas |
| topic | antipredator behavior avoidance Canis lupus Capreolus capreolus intra‐guild predation landscapes of fear |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.4215 |
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