Comfort over safety: thermoregulation overshadows predation risk effects in the activity of a keystone prey

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2022

Authors

Rocha, M (Author) Other; Serronha, A (Author) Other; Rodrigues, M (Author) Other; Alves, PC (Author) FCUP; Monterroso, P (Author) Other

Journal

Title: Journal of Zoology

Vol. 316

Pages: 209-222

ISSN: 0952-8369

Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 10 Citations

Scopus - 9 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00V-WE9

DOI: 10.1111/jzo.12947

Abstract (EN): The activity level is a fundamental metric of animal behavior, related to the avoidance of predators, food acquisition, and thermoregulation. Animals need to weigh their activity budget to fulfill their energetic, social and reproductive requirements over the energetic costs of these activities. This task becomes further challenging for prey species, which also need to account for predation risk. To investigate the factors shaping proactive behavioral decisions leading prey species engagement in their diel activities, we implemented a multisite year-round monitoring study on the Iberian rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus algirus), a key prey species in Mediterranean ecosystems. We deployed remotely triggered cameras over 15 sites to continuously monitor Iberian rabbits' activity. We estimated activity levels from time-of-detection data from camera traps, and modeled it as a function of climatic, intraspecific, predation, and resource-related covariates. We found that Iberian rabbits exhibit a bimodal activity pattern peaking at sunrise and sunset, with a more pronounced peak occurring at sunrise during the nonbreeding season, and spend 9.15 +/- 3.00 h/day (mean +/- sd) active. Diel activity levels were negatively affected by extreme environmental temperatures and density dependence, demonstrating the privileged importance of social interactions and normothermia maintenance. We found mammalian predator activity and abundance to have near-negligible effects on the activity levels of this key prey, suggesting decreased antipredator behavior when risk is perceived as prolonged. Moreover, we argue that perceived risk may be more important than realized risk in shaping Iberian rabbits' activity level. These results provide valuable insights toward a comprehensive understanding of the factors underlying behavioral decisions made by prey species, relevant for maintaining their energetic and homeostatic balance.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 14