Among-individual differences in foraging modulate resource exploitation under perceived predation risk
- PDF / 1,278,692 Bytes
- 14 Pages / 595.276 x 790.866 pts Page_size
- 7 Downloads / 185 Views
BEHAVIORAL ECOLOGY – ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Among‑individual differences in foraging modulate resource exploitation under perceived predation risk Jana A. Eccard1,2 · Thilo Liesenjohann1 · Melanie Dammhahn1,2 Received: 7 June 2020 / Accepted: 30 September 2020 © The Author(s) 2020
Abstract Foraging is risky and involves balancing the benefits of resource acquisition with costs of predation. Optimal foraging theory predicts where, when and how long to forage in a given spatiotemporal distribution of risks and resources. However, significant variation in foraging behaviour and resource exploitation remain unexplained. Using single foragers in artificial landscapes of perceived risks and resources with diminishing returns, we aimed to test whether foraging behaviour and resource exploitation are adjusted to risk level, vary with risk during different components of foraging, and (co)vary among individuals. We quantified foraging behaviour and resource exploitation for 21 common voles (Microtus arvalis). By manipulating ground cover, we created simple landscapes of two food patches varying in perceived risk during feeding in a patch and/or while travelling between patches. Foraging of individuals was variable and adjusted to risk level and type. High risk during feeding reduced feeding duration and food consumption more strongly than risk while travelling. Risk during travelling modified the risk effects of feeding for changes between patches and resulting evenness of resource exploitation. Across risk conditions individuals differed consistently in when and how long they exploited resources and exposed themselves to risk. These among-individual differences in foraging behaviour were associated with consistent patterns of resource exploitation. Thus, different strategies in foraging-under-risk ultimately lead to unequal payoffs and might affect lower trophic levels in food webs. Inter-individual differences in foraging behaviour, i.e. foraging personalities, are an integral part of foraging behaviour and need to be fully integrated into optimal foraging theory. Keywords Animal personality · Giving-up density · Intra-specific trait variation · Landscape of fear · Optimal foraging · Predation risk · Resource exploitation
Introduction
Communicated by Hannu J. Ylonen. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-020-04773-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users. * Jana A. Eccard eccard@uni‑potsdam.de 1
Animal Ecology, Institute for Biochemistry and Biology, University of Potsdam, Maulbeerallee 1, 14469 Potsdam, Germany
Berlin-Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research (BBIB), Königin‑Luise‑Str. 2‑4, 14195 Berlin, Germany
2
A fundamental problem governing animal behaviour is to balance the benefits of foraging with the costs of becoming food for others (Krebs and Davies 1978). One singular erroneous assessment of predation risk, i.e. the likelihood of falling prey to a predator’s attack, may have fatal cons
Data Loading...
