2024/12/18 by Jennifer E. Smith, Joey E. Ingbretson, Mackenzie M. Miner +7 · 1 voice · 9 citations
Agricultural and Biological Sciences · Earth and Planetary Sciences · Environmental Science · #Abundance (ecology) #Animal Ecology and Behavior Studies #Animal ecology #Bat Biology and Ecology Studies #Biology #Demography #Ecology #Evolution and Paleontology Studies #Foraging #Geography #Ground squirrel #Juvenile #Microtus #Population #Predation #Squirrel monkey #Vole #Zoology
paper · pdf · doi:10.1007/s10164-024-00832-6
published in Journal of Ethology 43(1), 3-12 (Springer Science+Business Media)
openalex publication_date 2024/12/18 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/06
Dietary flexibility allows animals to respond adaptively to food pulses in the environment. Here we document the novel emergence of widespread hunting of California voles and carnivorous feeding behavior by California ground squirrels. Over two months in the twelfth year of a long-term study on the squirrel population, we document 74 events of juvenile and adult ground squirrels of both sexes depredating, consuming, and/or competing over vole prey. Our video footage, photographic evidence, and direct observations of marked individual squirrels provide insights into the ecological circumstances favoring behavioral flexibility in foraging associated with a decadal peak in vole abundance. Digital video images related to the article are available at http://www.momo-p.com/showdetail-e.php?movieid=momo241126ob01a. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10164-024-00832-6.