Evidence that the house finch (Carpodacus mexicanus) uses scent to avoid omnivore mammals

摘要: The detection of predator chemical cues is an important antipredatory behaviour as it allows early assessment predation risk without encountering the and therefore increases survival. For instance, since are often by-products metabolism, olfaction may gather information not only on identity but also about diet predators in vicinity. Knowledge role interactions birds with their environment, contexts avoidance, still scarce. We conducted two two-choice experiments to explore 1) whether house finch Carpodacus mexicanus can detect a marsupial predatory mammal, common opossum (Didelphis marsupialis), 2) its response such influenced by recent this omnivorous predator, would increase accuracy which assessed. House finches avoided area apparatus containing scent effect did depend (bait used lace traps) predator. Our results provide clear evidence that use assess level avoid it.