Presentation Details
| Altered Foraging Behavior of a Mesopredator in Response to Perceived Predation Risk Jessica Stamn, Richard Buchholz. University of Mississippi, University, Mississippi, USA |
Abstract
Loss of apex predators releases smaller predators (mesopredators) to have greater impact on their prey, sometimes preventing species recovery. Can altering the risk perceived by individual mesopredators by placing cues (scent, sound) from apex predators result in the alteration of spatial use and foraging behavior to the benefit of prey? Is previous exposure to these predators necessary to deter mesopredators from target areas? We investigated foraging of individually marked raccoons (Procyon lotor) at foraging stations in response to auditory and scent cues from current and extirpated predators in comparison to the effect of cues from a non-predator. Preliminary analysis shows that while in general, raccoons avoid areas with apex predator cues, there was a high level of variation in individual response. We present possible explanations for why some individuals are less cautious in response to predator cues. Understanding the differences in individual response to altered risk can be important to creating conservation strategies to reduce over-predation on target species by risk-taking individuals.
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No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author.
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