Grouping increases the ability of the social rodent, <i>Octodon degus</i>, to detect predators when using exposed microhabitats

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dc.contributor.authorEbensperger, LA
dc.contributor.authorWallem, PK
dc.date.accessioned2025-01-21T01:10:35Z
dc.date.available2025-01-21T01:10:35Z
dc.date.issued2002
dc.description.abstractWe examined the hypothesis that a main benefit of group-living in the hystricognath rodent, Octodon degus (common degu), is to decrease individual risk of predation. During a first series of field observations, we contrasted group size of degus when using covered microhabitats with that of degus using exposed patches. During a second set of field observations, we assessed how distance to detection and to escape by degus varied with group size upon the approach of a potential human predator. Degus in exposed patches formed larger groups than degus in covered microhabitats. After excluding the influence of nearest burrow to focal subjects, we found that degus of larger groups detected an approaching human predator at a greater distance than degus of smaller groups. Likewise, degus of larger groups escaped to nearby burrows at a greater distance from the approaching predator than degus of smaller groups. All these pieces of evidence support the predatory risk hypothesis according to which group-living in degus functions to reduce the risk of predation.
dc.fuente.origenWOS
dc.identifier.eissn1600-0706
dc.identifier.issn0030-1299
dc.identifier.urihttps://repositorio.uc.cl/handle/11534/96699
dc.identifier.wosidWOS:000178440000013
dc.issue.numero3
dc.language.isoen
dc.pagina.final497
dc.pagina.inicio491
dc.revistaOikos
dc.rightsacceso restringido
dc.subject.ods15 Life on Land
dc.subject.ods13 Climate Action
dc.subject.odspa15 Vida de ecosistemas terrestres
dc.subject.odspa13 Acción por el clima
dc.titleGrouping increases the ability of the social rodent, <i>Octodon degus</i>, to detect predators when using exposed microhabitats
dc.typeartículo
dc.volumen98
sipa.indexWOS
sipa.trazabilidadWOS;2025-01-12
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