BEHAVIORAL ANALYSIS OF CONSPECIFIC CACHING COMPETITION IN PEROGNATHUS LONGIMEMBRIS PACIFICUS | |||
Sarah M Lord; Cal Poly SLO; smlord@calpoly.edu; Alison L. Greggor, Debra M. Shier, Shauna N. D. King | |||
Foraging is a critical survival skill to consider when reintroducing endangered species to the wild. The endangered Pacific pocket mouse, Perognathus longimembris pacificus, is being reintroduced to parts of its historic range where multiple species of native rodents have high dietary overlap. These species are nocturnal, solitary and granivorous, and to varying degrees store seasonally available seeds in caches, either in shallow pits (scatter-hoards) or inside the burrow (larder hoards). Although wild pocket mouse caches are subject to pilfer, they have also been shown to steal from caches of other species. Pocket mice raised in captivity have not experienced this same competition, which could put them at a disadvantage following release to the wild. We investigated if captive pocket mice (N = 56) pilfer from the caches of conspecifics when given access, and whether pocket mice that are pilfered from adjust their caching behavior. Experimental trials were conducted in pairs of two across 3 treatment stages. Our results suggest that captive pocket mice may pilfer from caches of conspecifics, but mice that are pilfered from do not make observable adjustments to their caching behavior. We place these results in the context of larger efforts to promote post-release survival. | |||
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