Prey size, prey nutrition, and food handling by shrews of different body sizes

摘要: We tested some predictions relating metabolic constraints of foraging behavior and prey selection by comparing food handling utilization in four sympatric shrew species: Sorex minutus (mean body mass = 3.0 g), S. araneus (8.0 Neomys anomalus (10.0 N. fodiens (14.4 g). Live fly larvae, mealworm aquatic arthropods were offered to shrews as small (body 0.3 The larvae the high-nutrition (>8 kJ/g), other low-nutrition ( 48% food. larger shrew, more it ate per capita. However, highly energetic insect composed 75% utilized only >40% species. Thus, inverse relationships appeared between mass-specific energy utilization: largest fodiens, least quantity 1 g its mass. Also, proportion hoarded decreased with increase size shrew. With exception araneus, was significantly than eaten. Tiny smaller items shrews, large shrews. Copyright 2002.