The influence of distance to burrow on flight initiation distance in the woodchuck, Marmota monax |
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Authors: | Bonenfant Marjolaine; Kramer Donald L |
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Institution: | Department of Biology, McGill University, 1205 Docteur Penfield Avenue Montreal, Quebec H3A 1B1, Canada |
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Abstract: | We used woodchucks (Marmota monax) to test predictions of acost-benefit model of antipredator behavior that flight initiationdistance would increase with distance to refuge and with predatorapproach velocity. We also examined the effects of distanceto refuge and predator approach velocity on escape velocityand on both temporal and spatial margin of safety (expectedtime and distance between predator and burrow at the time ofthe woodchuck's arrival). The observer, assumed to be perceivedas a potential predator, approached juvenile woodchucks fromthe direction opposite to the burrow at a slow (1.24 m/s) orfast (1.79 m/s) walking pace. When the woodchuck started toflee, the observer recorded the woodchuck's distance from theobserver and from its burrow, the time spent running, and whetherthe woodchuck stopped before reaching its burrow. Flight initiationdistance increased consistendy with distance to the burrow overthe entire observed range (025 m) but was not significantlyaffected by observer approach velocity. Escape velocity wasnot significantly influenced by the observer approach velocityand was approximately constant over the range of 225m, but was slower for woodchucks less than 2 m from their burrows.Both temporal and spatial margins of safety increased with distancefrom the burrow. The temporal margin of safety increased withdistance from the burrow more rapidly for slow than for fastobserver approach velocity. Woodchucks fleeing from greaterthan 2 m usually stopped near the burrow before entering, butthose from closer distances usually entered directly. Theseresults support the assumption that antipredator behavior issensitive to the costs and benefits of alternative escape decisions. |
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Keywords: | antipredator behavior escape velocity margin of safety Sciuridae |
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