Risk of Predation and the Structure of Desert Rodent Communities

Kotler, Burt P.

doi:10.2307/1938041

Cited by 449 publications

(310 citation statements)

References 48 publications

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“…These results add evidence for the role of rspb.royalsocietypublishing.org Proc R Soc B 280: 20130762 predation risk in structuring ecological communities, particularly terrestrial vertebrate communities, for which there are very limited experimental tests (e.g. [9,10]). …”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 52%

Too risky to settle: avian community structure changes in response to perceived predation risk on adults and offspring

et al. 2013

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Predation risk is widely hypothesized as an important force structuring communities, but this potential force is rarely tested experimentally, particularly in terrestrial vertebrate communities. How animals respond to predation risk is generally considered predictable from species life-history and natural-history traits, but rigorous tests of these predictions remain scarce. We report on a large-scale playback experiment with a forest bird community that addresses two questions: (i) does perceived predation risk shape the richness and composition of a breeding bird community? And (ii) can species life-history and natural-history traits predict prey community responses to different types of predation risk? On 9 ha plots, we manipulated cues of three avian predators that preferentially prey on either adult birds or offspring, or both, throughout the breeding season. We found that increased perception of predation risk led to generally negative responses in the abundance, occurrence and/or detection probability of most prey species, which in turn reduced the species richness and shifted the composition of the breeding bird community. Species-level responses were largely predicted from the key natural-history trait of body size, but we did not find support for the life-history theory prediction of the relationship between species' slow/fast life-history strategy and their response to predation risk.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 52%

Too risky to settle: avian community structure changes in response to perceived predation risk on adults and offspring

et al. 2013

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“…Annuals are short-lived, protein-rich plants, which are thought to be a critical resource for breeding in striped mice (Schradin & Pillay 2006). Spatial distribution of small mammals is often associated with dense cover (Asher et al 2004;Hayes et al 2007), probably because predation risk influences foraging activity (Kotler 1984;Anderson 1986;Brown et al 1988). We found that home ranges with little cover were larger, possibly because striped mice avoided areas without cover for foraging.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 70%

Female home range size is regulated by resource distribution and intraspecific competition: a long-term field study

et al. 2010

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The size of an individual's home range is an important feature, influencing reproduction and survival, but it can vary considerably among both populations and individuals. The factors accounting for such variation are still poorly understood, and comprehensive long-term field studies considering various environmental factors that influence home range size are rare. We investigated the effects of seasonality, availability of food, cover, number of direct neighbours and the relative individual body mass on home range sizes in 125 adult female striped mice, Rhabdomys pumilio, in South Africa from 2004 to 2008. We used radiotelemetry to estimate home range sizes, trapping to determine the number of direct neighbours, and plant surveys in every home range to determine availability of food and cover. Home ranges were smaller when food quantity was high, many territorial neighbours were present, females had a relatively small body mass and during the nonbreeding season. We conclude that the availability of food resources and intraspecific competition are the main factors influencing home range size in female striped mice. Females enlarged their home ranges when territorial neighbours were few, and there was a significant positive correlation between home range size and quantity of food plants. This indicates that home range size might not reflect the minimal trade-off between access to resources that allow for a female's survival and lowest cost for defending and foraging in that area. Instead, we propose a hypothesis for future research that female striped mice occupy areas several times larger than needed to improve their fitness by providing resources for future offspring.Female home range size is regulated by resource distribution and intraspecific competition: a long-term field study

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“…Additionally, predation risk may affect foraging behavior (Pierce et al, 1992) and in turn may help structure communities of prey when risk differs among habitats (Kotler, 1984). Habitats with homogenous cover (Molina) provide small mammals the opportunity to move short distances among foraging patches (i.e., shrub to shrub movement).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Relationships of Deer Mouse Movement, Vegetative Structure, and Prevalence of Infection With Sin Nombre Virus

Root

Calisher

Beaty

1999

Journal of Wildlife Diseases

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The effects of vegetative structure on movement of deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus) were examined in two distinct vegetation associations, one near Hesperus and the other near Molina in western Colorado (USA) from June-October 1994 to October 1998. We monitored movement by live-trapping small mammals within Gambel's oak/mixed-grass (Hesperus) and sage brush/juniper (Molina) vegetation types. Vegetative structure differed between the sites with Molina having more cover provided by shrubs and Hesperus having more cover provided by forbs. Adult male deer mice moved greater distances at Hesperus than at Molina. Sub-adult males tended to move greater distances than did adult females. Relative abundances of deer mice tended to differ by season, but the average relative abundance of deer mice was greater at Molina. Long-term prevalence of infection with SNV was greater at Hesperus and was greatest in adult males at Hesperus (36.1%). Adult males at Molina exhibited a prevalence of infection with SNV of 25.0%. Infection with SNV was highly associated with scars or wounds for adult male, adult female, and juvenile male deer mice at Hesperus, but only for adult female deer mice at Molina. The presence of scars or wounds tended to be associated with greater age, but male deer mice at Hesperus were more likely to have wounds than female deer mice of the same age class. A similar pattern, excluding juveniles, was observed at Molina. Intraspecific interactions and environmentally elicited long-distance movements of deer mice may play a role in prevalence of infection with SNV in these animals.

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Risk of Predation and the Structure of Desert Rodent Communities

Cited by 449 publications

References 48 publications

Too risky to settle: avian community structure changes in response to perceived predation risk on adults and offspring

Too risky to settle: avian community structure changes in response to perceived predation risk on adults and offspring

Female home range size is regulated by resource distribution and intraspecific competition: a long-term field study

Relationships of Deer Mouse Movement, Vegetative Structure, and Prevalence of Infection With Sin Nombre Virus

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