Temporal changes in food preferences of wood mice (Apodemus sylvaticus L.)

Diet choice was determined for wild-caught wood mice (Apodemus sylvaticus L.), temporarily confined to cages in the field and offered a choice of 24–26 types of seeds and fruits in 2-h sessions throughout the night. The mice showed an overall preference for some foods over others. The set-up minimized influences on food preferences of predation risk, hunger, food availability and competition. Variation in food preferences was not attributable to differences between individuals, but followed a temporal pattern. The variety of foods eaten showed a bimodal pattern with peaks corresponding to the two most active periods at the beginning and end of the night. Both the amount of food eaten and variation in the amount diminished from the first to the second active period. An expected selection for carbohydrates early in the night and proteins at the end of the night was not found, but sugars were selected for early in the night. These results are discussed in relation to the conflict between an animal's continuous energy requirements and the essentially periodic activity of foraging.