6533b7d1fe1ef96bd125cb2d
RESEARCH PRODUCT
WEASELS’ (MUSTELA NIVALIS NIVALIS) PREFERENCE FOR OLFACTORY CUES OF THE VOLE (CLETHRIONOMYS GLAREOLUS)
Hannu YlönenJanne SundellJana A. EccardTaina J. HorneRaisa Tiilikainensubject
biologyEcologyMustelidaeZoologybiology.organism_classificationPredationBank voleOdorWeaselbiology.animalVoleMicrotusLeast weaselEcology Evolution Behavior and Systematicsdescription
Many studies on life history strategies of small mammals under predation risk are based on assumptions that mammalian predators use scent marking from prey in searching and hunting. This is especially true for small mustelids hunting in the tunnels and cavities of their prey. It is assumed that weasels use the estrous signs of female voles as hunting cues, which exposes such females to a more pronounced risk of predation. We studied the preferences of 57 least weasels (Mustela nivalis nivalis) toward odor cues from four different reproductive categories of the bank vole (Clethrionomys glareolus). In the first experiment, weasels selected clearly for vole odors over clean bedding in a Y-maze arena. The second experiment demonstrated that there was no difference in weasel preference between estrous and pregnant or lactating females. Thirdly, there was no preference for odors from dominant vs. subordinate males. Finally, we offered weasels a dyadic choice between olfactory signs of six possible combinations ...
| year | journal | country | edition | language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003-06-01 | Ecology |