Food Pilfering in Larder-Hoarding Red Squirrels (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus)

摘要: Loss of cached foods is a constant threat to animals that hoard food, and pilfering plays an important role in the evolution hoarding strategies. Although known affect behavior scatter hoarders, has been assumed be less for larder-hoarding animals. In this study, I used mark-recapture study Norway spruce (Picea abies) cones quantify rates red squirrels (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus). Red stole 26% they ate lost 25% their middens. Most (97%) stealing (92%). However, individual 1–100% 1–84% Numbers gained by were not related age or sex distances between numbers territories. Squirrels with small middens, however, ultimately cones, those large middens cones. Because food frequently limiting resource squirrels, these changes abundance may directly fitness squirrels. Thus, likely shaping defensive behaviors