Foraging Behavior and Home Range Utilization of the Bannertial Kangaroo Rat (Dipodomys Spectabilis)

Schroder, Gene D.

doi:10.2307/1936601

Cited by 91 publications

(103 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…Although other explanations could account for this behavior (e.g., organized seed stems take up less space, are more defendable, or are less likely to be stolen by arthropods), these explanations did not have as much empirical support. For example, some food items are cached in such large quantities that D. spectabilis often caches them in Ͼ1 burrow (Herrera 1996;Schroder 1979;Vorhies and Taylor 1922), suggesting that space within burrows may be limiting. However, if space were the most important factor directing how seeds of S. cryptandrus are cached, we would expect that, in the safety of its burrow, D. spectabilis would strip seeds from their rachis and only cache naked seeds that take up less space.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

STACKING OF SEEDS CHANGES SPOILAGE DYNAMICS OF FOOD CACHES OF THE BANNER-TAILED KANGAROO RAT (DIPODOMYS SPECTABILIS)

Herrera

Ensz

Wilke

2001

Journal of Mammalogy

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We report a previously undescribed seed-storing behavior of banner-tailed kangaroo rats (Dipodomys spectabilis) that reduces losses to microbes. D. spectabilis cuts upper stems of the grass Sporobolus cryptandrus into 3-to 5-cm sections that we refer to as seed stems. Seeds within these seed stems remain attached to their rachis and are protected by an enveloping leaf. Most seed stems are bundled together tightly in packs of about 50 to several hundred individual stems and jammed vertically into cul-de-sacs excavated in the walls of their burrows. This behavior reduces rate of infection of seeds by fungi and also may reduce number of seeds pilfered by arthropods. Furthermore, compared with seeds of S. cryptandrus housed in middle sections of seed stems, those housed in the ends had a higher rate of infection. Simulated seed stems of wheat straw containing seeds of white millet (Panicum miliaceum) had a lower rate of infection and fewer species of fungi than seeds only protected by wire mesh. Seeds closer to the top of the simulated seed stems were more likely to be infected and had more species of fungi. Community structure and dynamics of microfungi also appeared affected by the protective layering of seed stems. We suggest that D. spectabilis manages the structure, and perhaps dynamics, of communities of microbes within their food caches by modifying position, location, or organization of food items.Key words: caching behavior, Dipodomys spectabilis, kangaroo rat, storing strategies Food storing occurs in a variety of ways by a variety of organisms (Smith and Reichman 1984;Vander Wall 1990). Banner-tailed kangaroo rats (Dipodomys spectabilis; Heteromyidae) are predominantly seed-storing rodents that construct large underground burrow systems where they cache vast amounts of food (Mun and Whitford 1990;Vorhies and Taylor 1922). These caches usually attract a diversity of microbes (Hawkins 1992; and microarthropods (Hawkins and Nicoletto 1992;Seastedt et al. 1986).While studying populations of microfungi that inhabit caches of D. spectabilis at Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge, Socorro County, New Mexico, we happened on * Correspondent: jherrera@truman.edu caches of food containing large numbers of cut stems containing seeds of the sand dropseed (Sporobolus cryptandrus-Herrera 1996). These seed stems were bundled tightly upright and squeezed into cul-desacs dug in walls of the burrow (Fig. 1).Although we suspect that cutting and carrying stems containing seeds of S. cryptandrus allows D. spectabilis to transport seeds efficiently to their burrow, we were interested in determining why D. spectabilis organizes and places seed stems upright in their burrow. We believe that careful organization of the seed stems of S. cryptandrus is time consuming and energetically costly and suspect the existence of an equally powerful counterselective advantage(s) to the food-storing behavior of the rodent. We investigated whether seeds of S. cryptanDownloaded from https://academic.oup.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

STACKING OF SEEDS CHANGES SPOILAGE DYNAMICS OF FOOD CACHES OF THE BANNER-TAILED KANGAROO RAT (DIPODOMYS SPECTABILIS)

Herrera

Ensz

Wilke

2001

Journal of Mammalogy

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“…They maintain 5-7 burrows within their home ranges (Chapman and Packard, 1974). Home range size does not appear to be related to average body size (Chew and Butterworth, 1964;Schroder, 1979), but rather to the particular foraging strategy of a species. Dipodomvs travels an average of 68 m per foraging trip and a total of 350 m per night.…”

Section: Natural Historymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Dipodomvs travels an average of 68 m per foraging trip and a total of 350 m per night. Home ranges of males and females overlap, with the larger territories possessed by males (Schroder, 1979;Maza et al, 1973;O'Farrell, 1980). Dispersal occurs at the end of the breeding season, but juveniles generally establish burrows as near to the natal burrow as possible (Munger et al, 1983).…”

Section: Natural Historymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…High ivinds and rain can decrease or halt their nocturnal activities (Kenagy, 1973;Lockard, 1978). Some mthors believe that heteromyids reduce their activity on moonlit nights to avoid being seen by predators, ilthough this contention is controversial (Kenagy, 1976;Schroder, 1979;Kaufman, 1982;Lockard and Owing, 1974). Audition plays a critical role in predator avoidance in the dark (Webster and Webster, 1971).…”

Section: Foraging and Predator Avoidancementioning

confidence: 99%

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Effects of Low-Altitude Aircraft Overflights on the Desert Kit Fox (Vulpes macrotis arsipus) and its Small Mammal Prey on the Barry M. Goldwater Air Force Range, Arizona, 1991-1994

Bowles¹,

Francine²,

Yaeger³

et al. 1995

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Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 1 hour per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to Washington Headquarters Services, Directorate for Information Operations and Reports, 1215 Jefferson Devis Highway, Suite 1204, Arlington, VA 222024302, and to the Office of Management and Budget, Paperwork Reduction Project (07040188), Washington, DC 20503. AGENCY USE ONLY (Leave blank)2. REPORT DATE February 1995 REPORT TYPE AND DATES COVEREDFinal -November 1990 to February 1995 TITLE AND SUBTITLEEffects of Low-Altitude Aircraft Overflights on the Desert Kit Fox (Vulpes macrotis arsipus) and its Small Mammal Prey on the Barry M. Goldwater Air Force Range, Arizona, 1991-1994 Ann E. Bowles,%hn Francine,*Samantha Wisely,*! Scott Yaegef*;*Lee McClenaghan Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES)Hubbs 12b. DISTRIBUTION CODE ABSTRACT (Maximum 200 words)There has been public concern that wildlife could be affected by military training activities. Of particular interest was the hypothesis that noise from military aircraft would disrupt the ecological balance between predator and prey by giving one or the other an advantage. To gauge these effects, this study was conducted under an Air Force Range in an area receiving levels of exposure higher than normally encountered under a Military Training Route. A nearby control site was exposed to much lower levels of noise. Noise monitors recorded actual exposure, and hearing of one heteromyid species, the kangaroo rat, was measured in situ. A total of 14,455 trap-nights were spent monitoring nocturnal small mammal communities on exposed and control plots. Rodent species diversity, numbers, reproductive activity, recruitment, mean weights, and survival were measured. The kit fox, a predator, was also examined. Although differences were uncovered between kit fox and smal mammal populations between the control and exposed areas, none was large, and none was at odds with the most parsimonious natural explanations. If the effects observed are assumed to be the result of aircraft noise exposure, the consequences to rodents and fox populations were smaller in magnitude than the natural variability observed during the course of the study.14. SUBJECT TERMS acoustics, noise effects, noise impacts, ecological balance, desert kit fox Reproductive activity in male (top) and female (bottom) Chaetodipus penicillatus on exposed and control plots on the Barry M. Goldwater Air Force Range, Arizona. ... 81 igure 5-10 Seasonal rates of recruitment for Dipodomys merriami on exposed and control plots on the Barry M. Goldwater Air Force Range, Arizona 82 igure 5-11 Seasonal rates of recruitment for Perognath...

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“…I have now shown it in Dipodomys heermanni arenae with Veldt grass and under field conditions. Yet, the pervasiveness of this behavior must be highlighted: removing seed heads from other grasses has been documented in Dipodomys heermanni, Ord's kangaroo rats (Kerley et al, 1997), Giant kangaroo rats (Schiffman, 1994) and Banner-tailed kangaroo rats (Schroder, 1979). Grass seeds were found to be the most important food item for Merriam's kangaroo rats in a study that looked at the cheek pouch contents of 411 individuals: grass seeds occurred in approximately 75% of the cheek pouches containing food (Bradley and Mauer, 1971).…”

Section: Kangaroo Rats Take the Seed Placed In The Field And Also Offmentioning

confidence: 99%

Native Small Mammal Use of an Invasive Grass: Heermann's kangaroo rats (Dipodomys heermanni) and Veldt grass (Ehrharta calycina) in Coastal California

Trunzo¹

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Foraging Behavior and Home Range Utilization of the Bannertial Kangaroo Rat (Dipodomys Spectabilis)

Cited by 91 publications

References 22 publications

STACKING OF SEEDS CHANGES SPOILAGE DYNAMICS OF FOOD CACHES OF THE BANNER-TAILED KANGAROO RAT (DIPODOMYS SPECTABILIS)

STACKING OF SEEDS CHANGES SPOILAGE DYNAMICS OF FOOD CACHES OF THE BANNER-TAILED KANGAROO RAT (DIPODOMYS SPECTABILIS)

Effects of Low-Altitude Aircraft Overflights on the Desert Kit Fox (Vulpes macrotis arsipus) and its Small Mammal Prey on the Barry M. Goldwater Air Force Range, Arizona, 1991-1994

Native Small Mammal Use of an Invasive Grass: Heermann's kangaroo rats (Dipodomys heermanni) and Veldt grass (Ehrharta calycina) in Coastal California

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