Use of substrate for surveillance behaviors in a community of talus slope mammals [Utilisation du substrat lors des comportements de surveillance dans une communauté de mammifères des pentes d'éboulis].

Résumé

Pikas (Ochotona princeps), Columbian ground squirrels (Spermophilus columbianus) and hoary marmots (Marmota caligata) all have pronounced visual surveillance behavior. These behaviors are described and the extent to which each behavior is associated with rock promontories is determined. All thee species show tendencies to use rock promontories for surveillance activities, although distinct interspecific differences in these tendencies are apparent. Factors which may contribute to these differences are variations in burrowing habits and in vulnerability to predation.