Does risk of predation by mammalian predators affect the spacing behaviour of rodents? Two large-scale experiments.

Abstract

Predator-prey interactions between small mammals and their avian and mammalian predators have attracted much attention. However, large-scale field experiments examining small-mammal antipredatory responses under the risk of predation by mammals are rare. As recently pointed out, the scale of experiments may cause misleading results in studies of decision-making under predation risk. We studied the effect of small mustelid predators on the spacing behaviour of the gray-tailed vole (Microtus canicaudus) and the bank vole (Clethrionomys glareolus) in two separate field enclosure experiments. The experiments were conducted during the breeding season in North America and northern Europe, where small mustelids have been suggested to be important mammalian predators of voles. As in most of the earlier laboratory studies, predation risk was simulated using fresh mustelid faeces and urine. This made it possible to compare the results from experiments at different spatial scales. We did not find any effect of increased predation risk on spacing behaviour (mean and/or maximum distance moved and home range size) or trappability in either vole species. Simulated predation risk did not affect the breeding of females in gray-tailed voles, as has previously been shown in bank voles. The results disagree with most of the studies conducted in laboratory conditions with small mammals. We discuss whether this discrepancy could be caused by differences in the scale of the experiments.