Sex-dependent habitat selection modulates risk management by meadow voles

Foraging involves a trade-off between food and safety. Most research into the trade-off invokes safety from predation. But danger and its associated risk arise from multiple causes that cannot be assessed solely with reference to predators. A more complete assessment of risk management requires experimental designs that attempt to modify and measure risks, regardless of the source of danger. I aimed to do so by adding shelter (mulched straw) and time-varying supplemental food (rabbit chow), while measuring foraging behavior and habitat use by a seminatural population of meadow voles. Voles foraged more intensely under safety, recognized least risk when given access to both food and shelter, but altered their risk management through time: management included a novel form of sex-dependent habitat selection in which male-male pairs occupied risky areas without shelter while female-female pairs occupied habitats sheltered by straw. The pattern is consistent with a sex-dependent evolutionary game in which female territoriality and tolerance of other females limit conflict with, and space use by, males. Voles' array of interacting strategies demonstrates that ecologists must be wary of ascribing risk only to predation, and particularly so if experiments are blind to other dangers and processes that alter foraging behavior and habitat selection.

Automated summary

Foraging involves a trade-off between food and safety, which is often associated with predation. However, danger and risk can arise from various causes and cannot be solely assessed based on predators. To provide a more comprehensive assessment of risk management, this study manipulated and measured risks by adding shelter and time-varying supplemental food to a population of meadow voles. The results showed that voles foraged more actively under safety, recognized least risk with access to both food and shelter, and exhibited sex-dependent habitat selection. This study highlights the need for ecologists to consider other dangers and processes that can alter foraging behavior and habitat selection, rather than attributing risk solely to predation.