A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal
Nonlinearity in the predation risk of prey mobility
Authors: Banks PB, Norrdahl K, Korpimaki E
Publisher: ROYAL SOC
Publication year: 2000
Journal: Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences
Journal name in source: PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
Journal acronym: P ROY SOC B-BIOL SCI
Volume: 267
Issue: 1453
First page : 1621
Last page: 1625
Number of pages: 5
ISSN: 0962-8452
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2000.1187
Abstract
Odorous waste products such as urine and faeces are unavoidable for most animals and are widely exploited by predators and their prey. Consequently, waste accumulations can be risky and prey that increase their mobility to disperse and dilute their waste should avoid a high predation risk until this benefit is balanced by the increasing risks of random predator encounter. This hypothesis is tested for voles (Microtus spp.) in Finland vulnerable to predation due to the scent- and UV-attractiveness of their urine. Mortality and mobility of radio-collared voles showed a U-shaped relationship, regardless of vole sex, species or population cycle phase. The low risks for prey making intermediate movements suggests that predation risk can exert strong selective pressures on prey such that they have little rest from the risk of being killed.
Odorous waste products such as urine and faeces are unavoidable for most animals and are widely exploited by predators and their prey. Consequently, waste accumulations can be risky and prey that increase their mobility to disperse and dilute their waste should avoid a high predation risk until this benefit is balanced by the increasing risks of random predator encounter. This hypothesis is tested for voles (Microtus spp.) in Finland vulnerable to predation due to the scent- and UV-attractiveness of their urine. Mortality and mobility of radio-collared voles showed a U-shaped relationship, regardless of vole sex, species or population cycle phase. The low risks for prey making intermediate movements suggests that predation risk can exert strong selective pressures on prey such that they have little rest from the risk of being killed.
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