Predation on two vole species by a shared predator: antipredatory response and prey preference

Abstract

In prey communities with shared predators, variation in prey vulnerability is a key factor in shaping community dynamics. Conversely, the hunting efficiency of a predator depends on the prey community structure, preferences of the predator and antipredatory behavioural traits of the prey. We studied experimentally, under seminatural field conditions, the preferences of a predator and the antipredatory responses of prey in a system consisting of two Myodes species of voles, the grey‐sided vole (M. rufocanus Sund.) and the bank vole (M. glareolus Schreb.), and their specialist predator, the least weasel (Mustela nivalis nivalis L.). To quantify the preference of the weasels, we developed a new modelling framework that can be used for unbalanced data. The two vole species were hypothesised to have different habitat‐dependent vulnerabilities. We created two habitats, open and forest, to provide different escape possibilities for the voles. We found a weak general preference of the weasels for the grey‐sided voles over the bank voles, and a somewhat stronger preference specifically in open habitats. The weasels clearly preferred male grey‐sided voles over females, whereas in bank voles, there was no difference. The activity of voles changed over time, so that voles increased their movements immediately after weasel introduction, but later adjusted their movements to times of lowered predation risk. Females that were more active had an elevated mortality risk, whereas in the case of males, the result was the opposite. We conclude that, in vulnerability to predation, the species‐ or habitat‐specific characteristics of these prey species are playing a minor role compared to sex‐specific characteristics.

Does personality in small rodents vary depending on population density?

“…Both mobility and dominance increase the fitness of a male vole (Horne and Ylönen 1996;Banks et al 2002;Sundell et al 2008). Dominance seems to be an honest signal of male quality and condition in the bank vole (Horne and Ylönen 1998;Lopuch and Matula 2008).…”

Secondhand horror: effects of direct and indirect predator cues on behavior and reproduction of the bank vole

“…As an adaptation against the dramatic predation pressure by weasels, voles are able to detect the odor of mustelids as an antipredator measure and change their behavior accordingly. They shift their activity times and spatial use to avoid weasels (Je z drzejewska and Je z drzejewski 1990, Je z drzejewski and Je z drzejewska 1990, Sundell et al 2008) Here, we studied in two experiments how increased predation risk, either direct risk in the form of least weasels (Mustela nivalis nivalis) odor, or indirect risk in the form of odor emitted by weasel-scared conspecifics, influenced behavior and reproductive investment in bank voles. They shift their activity times and spatial use to avoid weasels (Je z drzejewska and Je z drzejewski 1990, Je z drzejewski and Je z drzejewska 1990, Sundell et al 2008) Here, we studied in two experiments how increased predation risk, either direct risk in the form of least weasels (Mustela nivalis nivalis) odor, or indirect risk in the form of odor emitted by weasel-scared conspecifics, influenced behavior and reproductive investment in bank voles.…”

Effects of fragmented breeding habitat and resource distribution on behavior and survival of the bank vole (Myodes glareolus)

“…Males might have been crossing the matrix more than females, although we were not able to show this because of lower trappability of males. It might simply be that males taking the risk to leave the patch die, without being trapped, and the ones that move little and pronouncedly inside the habitat survive (Sundell et al 2008). Food supply at the end of summer seemed to affect the behavior and weight development of female bank voles.…”