Mammal responses to predator scents across multiple study areas

• Published in: Ecosphere
• Main Authors: Sunde, Peter, Böcker, Felix, Rauset, Geir Rune, Kjellander, Petter, Chrenkova, Monika, Skovdal, Trine Munck, van Beeck Calkoen, Suzanne, Mayer, Martin, Heurich, Marco
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 2022
• Subjects: antipredator behavior; avoidance; Canis lupus; Capreolus capreolus; intra-guild predation; landscapes of fear; Lepus europaeus; Lynx lynx; odor; risk-sensitive foraging; vigilance; Vulpes vulpes; Lynx
• Online Access: https://pure.au.dk/portal/da/publications/mammal-responses-to-predator-scents-across-multiple-study-areas(a22febb7-3a8f-41db-9b18-d33fded3ce98).html; https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.4215; http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85136870193&partnerID=8YFLogxK

Antipredator behaviors allow prey to mitigate the impacts of their predators. We investigated antipredator responses of two herbivore species, roe deer and European hare, and one mesopredator, red fox, toward predation risk imposed by lynx and wolf. We collected data (using camera traps) on visitation frequency and vigilance behavior to olfactory predator stimuli during 158 standardized scent trials in five areas across Europe, where lynx and wolves either occurred or had been absent for centuries. After a period without scent, trial sites were either marked with lynx or wolf urine, or butyric acid (unspecific scent used to contrast species-specific scent responses). We expected the two herbivores to respond aversively (reduced visitation frequency, and increased vigilance) to predator urine, while red foxes (scavengers) might adopt a risk-sensitive exploration strategy by increasing vigilance near predator urine without reducing visitation frequency. For all species, we expected stronger responses toward the ambush predator lynx than to the pursue predator wolf (cryptic predator hypothesis). If prey responds more strongly to predator stimuli when coexisting with the predator, we expected stronger reactions to predator urine in areas where predators occurred (naïve prey hypothesis). Roe deer significantly avoided lynx urine and butyric acid, but not wolf urine. However, roe deer visitation frequency did not differ between scent treatment with large carnivore urine and butyric acid (suggesting that roe deer generally avoid areas with unfamiliar scent), or between areas where large carnivores were present and absent. Hares did not significantly avoid predator urine. Red foxes were attracted to lynx urine in sympatry, but not in allopatry with large carnivores. They increased vigilance rates in the presence of lynx urine independent of sympatry/allopatry with large carnivores. These findings generally confirm our expectations of predator avoidance by herbivores, and attraction combined with increased vigilance of ...