Of mice and cats: interspecific variation in prey responses to direct and indirect predator cues

Best, Ian Nicholas; Shaner, Pei Jen L.; Pei, Kurtis Jai-Chyi; Kuo, Chi‐Chien

doi:10.1007/s00265-022-03277-4

Cited by 2 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 83 publications

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“…During the test period, the behaviors of animals that interacted with the seeds were recorded using trail cameras to observe how they handled the seeds, and to look out for novel behaviors such as seed removal and smallseed caching (Vander Wall, 2003). The forest floor conditions, and season are related factors that are known to alter seed foraging behavior in mice (Kikuzawa, 1988;Haugaasen et al, 2010;Best et al, 2022). By conducting the study in areas with different forest floor conditions and in different seasons, we aimed to determine whether this pattern of plant-animal interactions occurs with small seeds such as S. borealis.…”

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Utilization of Sasa borealis seeds by Japanese field mouse: discovery of small-seed caching

Suzuki,

Kajimura

2023

Front. Ecol. Evol.

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Bambusoideae are well-known for their large-scale flowering, seeding, and death events that occur after a vegetative phase that can often last for decades. These events are a valuable resource for many animals. Their mast seeding, in particular, affects rodent populations although the causal relationship between them is speculative. Moreover, the species of animals that utilize this resource also remains unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the interaction between mast seeding plants and animals by conducting a feeding test using the seeds of a dwarf bamboo species (Sasa borealis) at different seasons and in different forest types. The results revealed that two mouse species, Apodemus speciosus and A. argenteus, utilized the seeds. They both predated as well as removed and sometimes buried the seeds, exhibiting small-seed caching behavior. Furthermore, A. speciosus was found to exhibit higher seed predation at covered sites and switching to removal behavior at the more exposed, open sites, while A. argenteus showed no distinguishable trends. Additionally, A. speciosus utilized the seeds less frequently in fall than in summer, suggesting a shift in diet towards acorns when available. Collectively, the results of this study provide novel insights into the interaction between mast seeding plants and the animals that utilize them.

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Utilization of Sasa borealis seeds by Japanese field mouse: discovery of small-seed caching

Suzuki,

Kajimura

2023

Front. Ecol. Evol.

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“…Tannins, a type of secondary compound, are particularly important in selection because they exhibit chemical defense mechanisms against rodents (Pyare et al., 1993; Smallwood & Peters, 1986; Wang & Chen, 2008). Furthermore, the surrounding environment (i.e., vegetation coverage) is thought to influence rodent foraging patterns (Best et al., 2023; Kikuzawa, 1988). Another factor to consider is the presence of other food sources.…”

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confidence: 99%

How much do field mice prefer dwarf bamboo seeds? Two‐choice experiments between seeds of Sasa borealis and several tree species on the forest floor

Suzuki,

Kajimura

2023

Ecology and Evolution

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Bambusoideae is a taxon of mass‐flowering monocarpic perennials with a long life cycle. Forest ecosystems are affected by Bambusoideae seeding and death events in various ways, including an increased abundance of Apodemus spp. The utilization and preference of dwarf bamboo seeds over tree seeds by field mice remain elusive. Therefore, we aimed to determine whether field mice prefer dwarf bamboo to tree seeds. We examined one dwarf bamboo species (Sasa borealis) against four tree species with varying acorn/fruit traits (Castanea crenata, Quercus crispula, Fagus crenata, and Lindera triloba). The seeds were placed in a container in a forest among dead S. borealis culms, with an automatic camera monitoring the setup. The examined seeds were mainly foraged by two field mouse species, Apodemus speciosus and Apodemus argenteus, with preference in the following order: C. crenata, L. triloba, S. borealis, F. crenata, and Q. crispula. Our findings indicated that during S. borealis mast seeding years, predation pressure on F. crenata and Q. crispula seeds could be considerably reduced. This suggests that mast seeding might disrupt the normal pattern of survival, and seed dispersal patterns, potentially altering the forest vegetation composition.

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Of mice and cats: interspecific variation in prey responses to direct and indirect predator cues

Cited by 2 publications

References 83 publications

Utilization of Sasa borealis seeds by Japanese field mouse: discovery of small-seed caching

Utilization of Sasa borealis seeds by Japanese field mouse: discovery of small-seed caching

How much do field mice prefer dwarf bamboo seeds? Two‐choice experiments between seeds of Sasa borealis and several tree species on the forest floor

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