Raptor Models Alter Rodent Behavior During Acorn Dispersal

The relationship between rodents and oak trees has attracted considerable attention. The interaction spans a wide range of outcomes, from extreme predation, in which rodents consume acorns, to forms of collaboration that approach mutualism. Acorn characteristics and the behavior of rodent species within the oak habitats are among the factors shaping this interaction. This study examines the influence of third species on rodent-oak interaction by using raptor models. The main objective is to determine whether raptors in the treetops can deter rodents from feeding on acorns, thereby reducing acorn dispersal. To achieve this objective, we monitored acorns' dispersal by four rodent species, Algerian mouse, wood mouse, common vole, and garden dormouse, in 10 m × 10 m semi-wild enclosures with oak trees in the four corners, two of them with raptor models. Beneath the 4 oaks, 60 acorns, 15 acorns per tree, were provided daily for 15 days, and the acorns in situ consumption and dispersal were tracked to determine whether the presence of raptor models altered the dispersal by any of the rodent species. The results show that species that are actively involved in acorn dispersion through transport (Algerian mouse, wood mouse) modify their behavior in response to the presence of raptor models in the treetops. The garden dormouse also modifies its behavior, although this species does not transport or bury acorns; however, it does move them around on the surface and consumes most of the acorns whole by preying on them. Therefore, it does not participate in the acorn dispersion process. The common vole typically occupies open habitats without oaks and does not modify its behavior, probably because raptor models are not perceived as a threat.