Complex effects of competition and predation risk on foraging behaviour and acorn dispersal by Algerian mice in scattered oak woodlands: an experimental approach" in the scientific session

MARIO DÍAZ; DIEGO GARCÍA GALLEGO; TERESA MORÁN LÓPEZ; DEVAYANA VALERO

Sevilla

Congreso; XIV MEDECOS & XIII AEET congress; 2017

International Society of Mediterranean Ecology & AEET

Acorn dispersal by Algerian mice (Mus spretus) is essential for solving the lack of natural regeneration in savanna-like holm oakwoodlands (dehesas). Perceived risks of predation and cache pilferage by conspecifics and other competitors seem to drive seeddispersal by mice in oak forests, as shown by agent-based model simulations. We performed a field manipulation of both factorsby means of predator scents (Genetta genetta) and ungulate exclosures to test whether ungulate and/or predator managementcould enhance oak regeneration in dehesas through cascading effects on mice responses. Foraging behaviour and acorn dispersalwere analysed with automatic video cameras. Presence of predators, ungulates and conspecifics modulated the effects of previousexperience on foraging and caching decisions, and these processes acted at different scales (tree and plot) that were integrated byforaging individuals. Removal rates were largest when both ungulates and prededators were present under low levels of indirectpredation risk (new moon), whereas increased direct risk by means of addition of predaror scent resulted in increased vigilance andrecuced dispersal under high levels of indirect risk (full moon). Results obtained suggest that these three types of animals (predators,prey and competitors) are inmersed in a complex interaction web that also relies on the effects of conspecifics, as well as on otherindirect factors such as moonlight or acorn availability. Thus, dehesa recruiment may be enhanced by the restoration of the overallfunctional diversity of open oak woodlands, including mouse dispersers but also carnivore predators and ungulate competitors.