The Timid Invasion: Behavioural Adjustments and Range Expansion in a Non-Native Rodent

Authors

Jana A. Eccard, Animal Ecology, Institute for Biochemistry and Biology, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany
Valeria Mazza, Animal Ecology, Institute for Biochemistry and Biology, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany
Celia Holland, Department of Zoology, School of Natural Sciences, Trinity College Dublin, College Green, Dublin 2, Ireland
Peter Stuart, Department of Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Munster Technological University, Clash, Tralee, Ireland

ORCID

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2313-8849

Document Type

Article

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Disciplines

Biology | Life Sciences

Publication Details

Proceedings of the Royal Society B, 290: 20230823. © 2023 The Authors.

Abstract

Animal behaviour can moderate biological invasion processes, and the native fauna's ability to adapt. The importance and nature of behavioural traits favouring colonization success remain debated. We investigated behavioural responses associated with risk-taking and exploration, both in non-native bank voles (Myodes glareolus, N = 225) accidentally introduced to Ireland a century ago, and in native wood mice (Apodemus sylvaticus, N = 189), that decline in numbers with vole expansion. We repeatedly sampled behavioural responses in three colonization zones: established bank vole populations for greater than 80 years (2 sites), expansion edge vole populations present for 1–4 years (4) and pre-arrival (2). All zones were occupied by wood mice. Individuals of both species varied consistently in risk-taking and exploration. Mice had not adjusted their behaviour to the presence of non-native voles, as it did not differ between the zones. Male voles at the expansion edge were initially more risk-averse but habituated faster to repeated testing, compared to voles in the established population. Results thus indicate spatial sorting for risk-taking propensity along the expansion edge in the dispersing sex. In non-native prey species the ability to develop risk-averse phenotypes may thus represent a fundamental component for range expansions.

Recommended Citation

Eccard Jana A., Mazza Valeria, Holland Celia and Stuart Peter 2023The timid invasion: behavioural adjustments and range expansion in a non-native rodentProc. R. Soc. B.29020230823 http://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2023.0823