Presentation Details
| Diet as a potential mechanism for natal habitat preference induction Karen Mabry, Madeline Strom. New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, New Mexico, USA |
Abstract
Individual dietary preferences can be shaped by early experiences in the natal environment and may even influence where an animal settles as an adult. Examining animals’ diets can also shed light on how they coexist with competitors. Here we use metabarcoding of faecal samples to investigate the influence of habitat type on diet composition in co-occurring brush mice, Peromyscus boylii, and pinyon mice, P. truei. Previous research indicates that habitat selection behavior by brush mice is consistent with natal habitat preference induction (NHPI), with juvenile dispersers choosing to settle in natal-type habitat; however, potential mechanisms underlying NHPI have thus far been unclear. We found that for brush mice, diet composition differed between habitat types, suggesting food preferences as a possible driver of NHPI. We also found evidence of dietary niche partitioning between species within a habitat type.
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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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