黄鼬气味对高原鼢鼠行为的影响

Anti-predator behavior in response to weasel odor in plateau zokor

捕食者气味是具有高度进化性的自然应激源,可提供与捕食者有关的大量信息,并会引起被捕食者广泛的反捕食行为。为分析高原鼢鼠(Eospalax baileyi)对捕食者黄鼬(Mustela sibirica)粪便气味的行为响应及反捕食权衡策略,通过非损伤活捕高原鼢鼠,在行为测试装置中,将其暴露于1 g黄鼬粪便30 min,以蒸馏水为对照,检测其对黄鼬粪便气味的行为响应特征。结果发现,黄鼬粪便的存在显著降低了雄性高原鼢鼠取食时间和食物摄入量以及雌性的食物摄入量(P<0.05),雌性高原鼢鼠的取食时间减少但未达显著水平(P>0.05);黄鼬粪便存在时,雄性和雌性高原鼢鼠的静止、直立、移动以及躲避行为均显著增加(P<0.05),但隐藏和探头行为的累积时间和频次无显著变化(P>0.05)。黄鼬粪便气味显著影响了高原鼢鼠的食物摄入量,并引起反捕食行为的表达。

Predator odors are natural stressors of high ethological impact that induce a broad range of anti-predator responses,which aim to maximize the fitness of individuals through avoidance of dangerous confrontations.To analyze the response of the plateau zokors(Eospalax baileyi)to predator odors and the trade-offs between anti-predator responses and foraging,we tested the anti-predator behavioral responses of plateau zokors to the scent of weasel(Mustela sibirica)feces using distilled water as the control group.Plateau zokors were live-captured from the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau,and individual behavior was tested in a defensive withdrawal apparatus consisting of a hideaway tunnel and a testing arena for 30 min.Results indicated that feeding time and food intake were significantly reduced in males when exposed to weasel feces(P<0.05).Food intake was also significantly reduced in females(P<0.05),and there was no significant difference in feeding time(P>0.05).When exposed to weasel feces,we detected a significant increase in the cumulative time and frequency of freezing,rearing,locomotion,and avoidance behaviors in both males and females(P<0.05).However,there was no significant change in the cumulative time and frequency of hiding and heading out(P>0.05).In summary,the odor of weasel feces significantly affects food intake and triggers the expression of various anti-predator behaviors in plateau zokors.These behavioral adaptations to predation threats might support the functional significance of the predation risk timeallocation hypothesis.