10.5061/DRYAD.VR20P
Weinstein, Sara B.
University of California, Santa Barbara
Moura, Chad W.
University of California, Santa Barbara
Mendez, Jon Francis
University of California, Santa Barbara
Lafferty, Kevin D.
University of California, Santa Barbara
Data from: Fear of feces? Trade-offs between disease risk and foraging
drive animal activity around raccoon latrines
Dryad
dataset
2017
Zonotrichia atricapilia
Melospiza melodia
Zonotrichia leucophrys
Tozostoma redivivum
Otospermophilus beecheyi
Pipilo crissalis
camera trap
Thryomanes bewickii
Reithrodontomys megalotis
Mephitis mephitis
Procyon lotor
Didelphis virginiana
Scleroporus occidentalis
Felis rufus
Peromyscus maniculatus
Rattus rattus
Holocene
Sylvilagus bachmani
National Science Foundation
https://ror.org/021nxhr62
1144085
2017-12-06T16:31:32Z
2017-12-06T16:31:32Z
en
https://doi.org/10.1111/oik.04866
537123 bytes
1
CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication
Fear of predation alters prey behavior, which can indirectly alter entire
landscapes. A parasite-induced ecology of fear might also exist if animals
avoid parasite-contaminated resources when infection costs outweigh
foraging benefits. To investigate whether animals avoid parasite
contaminated sites, and if such avoidance balances disease costs and
foraging gains, we monitored animal behavior at raccoon latrines — sites
that concentrate both seeds and pathogenic parasite eggs. Using wildlife
cameras, we documented over 40 potentially susceptible vertebrate species
in latrines and adjacent habitat. Latrine contact rates reflected
background activity, diet preferences and disease risk. Disease-tolerant
raccoons and rats displayed significant site attraction, while susceptible
birds and small mammals avoided these high-risk sites. This suggests that
parasites, like predators, might create a landscape of fear for vulnerable
hosts. Such non-consumptive parasite effects could alter disease
transmission, population dynamics, and even ecosystem structure.
Latrine_CamerasWe monitored animal activity at Coal Oil Point Reserve in
Santa Barbara County, California using wildlife camera traps. We set
camera traps (Moultrie models: MFH-DGS-M80XT, MCG-12594, MCG-12631) at
raccoon latrines and latrine-adjacent habitat to examine wildlife contact
rates with raccoon latrines and exposure risk to the raccoon parasite,
Baylisascaris procyonis. We mapped latrines and then monitored animal
behavior at latrines and paired latrine-adjacent sites from December 2012
through April 2015. We identified vertebrate animals in camera trap photos
and recorded when animals were in contact with or foraging in latrines.
The “latrine cameras” data set includes three sheets with (1) set data for
each camera deployment, (2) animal observations from each camera, and (3)
latrine habitat surveys. Field attributes for each sheet are described in
the “Metadata ReadMe” file. Contact S. Weinstein for access to original
camera trap photos.
USA
-119.878388°
Santa Barbara County
34.407197°
California