Olfactory predator recognition in the brown mouse lemur (Microcebus rufus) in Ranomafana National Park, Madagascar

• Published in: American journal of primatology Vol. 82; no. 10; pp. e23184 - n/a
• Main Authors: Deppe, Anja M., Kushnick, Geoff
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.10.2020
• Subjects: Animals; Anti-predator behavior; antipredation behavior; Avoidance behavior; Behavior change; Behavior, Animal - physiology; Boidae; Cheirogaleidae - physiology; Chemical stimuli; Controlled conditions; Cues; Curiosity; Fear; Fear & phobias; Feces; Female; Laboratories; Madagascar; Male; Mammals; Microcebus rufus; National parks; nocturnal primate; Odorants; Odors; Olfactory stimuli; predation; Predators; Predatory Behavior; Prey; Rainforests; Risk assessment; Risk perception; sensory ecology; Sensory evaluation; Sensory properties; Stimuli; Stimulus; Strigiformes; trapping; Urine; Madagascar; antipredation behavior; predation; nocturnal primate; trapping; sensory ecology
• ISSN: 0275-2565; 1098-2345; 1098-2345
• DOI: 10.1002/ajp.23184

Predator odors such as urine and feces are known to elicit antipredator behaviors in prey including avoidance, fear, and curiosity. We measured how wild brown mouse lemurs (Microcebus rufus) responded to odors of mammalian, avian, and snake predators as well as nonpredator controls. The first experiment took place under controlled conditions in a laboratory where we recorded the occurrence of four behavioral categories (ignore, curiosity, alert, and fear) in response to a single odor. Subjects exhibited behavioral change significantly more often in response to the predator than to control stimuli, but did not distinguish between familiar and unfamiliar predators. Mammalian predator urine and feces were most likely to elicit behavioral change. The owl was the only predator to never elicit behavioral change, possibly because owls do not provide relevant odor cues. A second experiment employing live traps in the forest found that neither predator nor control odors affected the likelihood of capture. Due to their longevity, odors do not provide accurate information of spatial and temporal risk, and while mouse lemurs may have initially hesitated to enter a trap, in the absence of additional information about risk, they may have eventually ignored the stimuli. This study found that brown mouse lemurs are able to distinguish between predator and nonpredator odors, and that risk assessment may be affected by the experience, as well as predator and sensory stimulus quality. Set‐up of the laboratory experiment. Trials were four minutes during which behavioral reactions were recorded and categorized. Research Highlights Wild rainforest mouse lemurs distinguished between predator and control odors under laboratory conditions. Subjects failed to discriminate between familiar and unfamiliar predators. Behavioral differences among individuals indicate that experience may affect risk perception.