Anglia Ruskin Research Online (ARRO)
Browse

File(s) not publicly available

Giving-up densities and foraging behaviour indicate possible effects of shrub encroachment on arctic ground squirrels

journal contribution
posted on 2023-07-26, 14:26 authored by Helen C. Wheeler, David S. Hik
ehavioural responses of prey to predation risk are often mediated by vegetation structure. Erect woody shrubs are increasing in many arctic and alpine environments, and this change in habitat structure has the potential to alter perception of risk and fear for foraging herbivores. To assess the role of shrub cover in determining behavioural responses to foraging under predation risk, we used measurements of giving-up density (GUD) and video recordings of vigilance behaviour of individual Arctic ground squirrels, Urocitellus parryii, across an alpine tundra to shrub ecotone. Dense shrub habitat was associated with higher GUDs, implying that foraging costs were higher in dense shrub than in less shrub-dominated habitats. Foraging strategies differed between habitats, with a negative relationship between visibility and GUD in high-visibility, open-tundra habitats and a positive relationship between visibility and GUD in low-visibility, shrub-dominated habitats, which may be indicative of alternative foraging strategies in different habitats. Squirrels initially made a high investment in vigilance, which was independent of patch residence time. This presumably increases the costs of quitting patches earlier. In shrub-dominated habitat, erect bipedal forms of vigilance were also observed more frequently. Our results indicate that shrub encroachment into northern and alpine tundra may impose costs on foraging arctic ground squirrels and alter foraging strategies.

History

Refereed

  • Yes

Volume

95

Page range

1-8

Publication title

Animal Behaviour

ISSN

0003-3472

Publisher

Elsevier

Language

  • other

Legacy posted date

2018-09-21

Legacy Faculty/School/Department

ARCHIVED Faculty of Science & Technology (until September 2018)

Usage metrics

    ARU Outputs

    Categories

    No categories selected

    Licence

    Exports

    RefWorks
    BibTeX
    Ref. manager
    Endnote
    DataCite
    NLM
    DC