Olfactory predator discrimination in yellow-bellied marmots

Abstract

Many species of mammals have been shown to modify their behavior in response to olfactory cues of predator presence, but few studies have attempted to directly compare responses to different predators. In this study, we assessed the response of yellow-bellied marmots (Marmota flaviventris) to the urine of two common predators, coyote (Canis latrans) and red fox (Vulpes vulpes). We presented marmots with pairs of baited scent stations and recorded all behaviors within 0.5 m of the stations for one minute. We found that marmots sniff more and spend less time looking near predator urine relative to herbivore urine. When fox and coyote urine were presented together, no significant differences in behaviors were detected, although moderate to large effect sizes indicated a pattern of less time looking and more time foraging near the urine of coyote, a riskier predator. Marmots appear to respond to predator odors by trading off predator detection for reduced visibility and reduced exposure time. We cannot conclude that olfactory predator recognition is species-specific in yellow-bellied marmots, although a larger sample size may reveal an effect.