The ecology of seed dispersal by small rodents: a role for predator and conspecific scents

1. Seed-caching rodents play a key role in the ecology of seed dispersal by not only consuming but also dispersing seeds. Rodent foraging behaviour is usually framed within optimal models which predict that their decisions should maximize food intake and minimize foraging costs. Yet, although predation risk and seed pilferage by conspecifics have been envisaged as two potential costs, their relevance for seed-caching behaviour and seed dispersal has barely been addressed. 2. To test the effect of predation and pilferage risk on the patterns of seed predation/dispersal by rodents, we performed a field experiment using a tri-trophic-level model (plant-mice-carnivore; Quercus spp- Apodemus sylvaticus-Genetta genetta,) and the scents of the predator and conspecifics as direct cues. The behaviour of mice was analyzed with video cameras set for continuous recording on consecutive nights and we used tagged acorns to assess the patterns of acorn predation and dispersal. 3. Our results revealed ...