Title
Do Cape ground squirrels (Xerus inauris) discriminate between olfactory cues in the faeces of predators versus non-predators?
Abbreviated Journal Title
Afr. Zool.
Keywords
vigilance; odour; predator-prey; sociality; VULPES-VULPES; FORAGING BEHAVIOR; RESPONSES; ODORS; AVOIDANCE; MAMMALS; TADPOLES; HABITAT; SCENTS; VOLES; Zoology
Abstract
One way to avoid potential predators is to be sensitive to odour cues, particularly those in faeces and urine, left by predators. This sensitivity has been demonstrated in many solitary, nocturnal, small mammals which may fall victim to ambush predators. We tested the response of Cape ground squirrels, a diurnal, group-living small mammal, to the presence of predator (black-backed jackal) faeces and non-predator (black wildebeest) dung in baited traps, and also predator faeces and non-predator dung outside their burrows. The squirrels showed a significantly higher avoidance of traps scented with predator faeces than both control and non-predator dung-scented traps. They also took significantly longer to emerge from burrows that had predator faeces outside compared with control burrows and burrows with non-predator dung outside and showed a trend for higher vigilance once they emerged from burrows with predator faeces outside. We argue that as diurnal group-living reduces a reliance on olfactory cues, this species is more likely to rely on visual cues and the vigilance of other individuals than nocturnal solitary species that have been the focus of most studies up till now. As a result, squirrels very quickly return to normal behaviour after exposure to a predator cue. Level of sociality is likely to influence responses to olfactory cues of predators and should be the focus of further studies.
Journal Title
African Zoology
Volume
42
Issue/Number
1
Publication Date
1-1-2007
Document Type
Editorial Material
Language
English
First Page
135
Last Page
138
WOS Identifier
ISSN
1562-7020
Recommended Citation
"Do Cape ground squirrels (Xerus inauris) discriminate between olfactory cues in the faeces of predators versus non-predators?" (2007). Faculty Bibliography 2000s. 6861.
https://stars.library.ucf.edu/facultybib2000/6861
Comments
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