| Title: | Exploiting interspecific olfactory communication to monitor predators |
| Author(s): | Garvey PM; Glen AS; Clout MN; Wyse SV; Nichols M; Pech RP; |
| Address: | "Centre for Biodiversity and Biosecurity, School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand. Landcare Research, Private Bag 92170, Auckland, 1142, New Zealand. Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, Wakehurst Place, RH17 6TN, United Kingdom. Centre for Wildlife Management and Conservation, Lincoln University, Canterbury, New Zealand. Landcare Research, PO Box 69040, Lincoln, 7640, New Zealand" |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 1051-0761 (Print) 1051-0761 (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "Olfaction is the primary sense of many mammals and subordinate predators use this sense to detect dominant species, thereby reducing the risk of an encounter and facilitating coexistence. Chemical signals can act as repellents or attractants and may therefore have applications for wildlife management. We devised a field experiment to investigate whether dominant predator (ferret Mustela furo) body odor would alter the behavior of three common mesopredators: stoats (Mustela erminea), hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus), and ship rats (Rattus rattus). We predicted that apex predator odor would lead to increased detections, and our results support this hypothesis as predator kairomones (interspecific olfactory messages that benefit the receiver) provoked 'eavesdropping' behavior by mesopredators. Stoats exhibited the most pronounced responses, with kairomones significantly increasing the number of observations and the time spent at a site, so that their occupancy estimates changed from rare to widespread. Behavioral responses to predator odors can therefore be exploited for conservation and this avenue of research has not yet been extensively explored. A long-life lure derived from apex predator kairomones could have practical value, especially when there are plentiful resources that reduce the efficiency of food-based lures. Our results have application for pest management in New Zealand and the technique of using kairomones to monitor predators could have applications for conservation efforts worldwide" |
| Keywords: | Animals Conservation of Natural Resources Female Ferrets/physiology Food Chain Hedgehogs/*physiology Introduced Species Male Mustelidae/*physiology New Zealand *Odorants *Olfactory Perception Pest Control/*methods Predatory Behavior Rats/*physiology carni; |
| Notes: | "MedlineGarvey, Patrick M Glen, Alistair S Clout, Mick N Wyse, Sarah V Nichols, Margaret Pech, Roger P eng 2016/12/17 Ecol Appl. 2017 Mar; 27(2):389-402. doi: 10.1002/eap.1483. Epub 2017 Feb 1" |
