The response of water voles, Arvicola terrestris, to the odours of predators.

摘要: We investigated the response of water voles to odours predators in outdoor enclosures. Water were given access two food cages, one containing odour a predator and other no odour, videotaped for 22 h. Sheep was also used as control novel odour. The American mink, Mustela vison, brown rat, Rattus norvegicus. There difference voles' sheep entered treatment cages mink's significantly fewer times than they indicating avoidance former. They gathered less from, stayed shorter time inside, cages. avoided more rat's fact that experimental animals had not previous contact with mink suggests is innate. These results suggest perceived greater risk rats, although both these species. Copyright 1999 Association Study Animal Behaviour.