Snake harassment in the Cape ground squirrel (Xerus inauris): variation in anti-predator behaviours, predator discrimination and venom resistance in a facultative cooperative breeder.

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dc.contributor.authorPhillips, Molly A.
dc.contributor.examiningcommitteeHare, Jim (Biological Sciences) Lingle, Susan (University of Winnipeg)en_US
dc.contributor.supervisorWaterman, Jane (Biological Sciences)en_US
dc.date.accessioned2012-09-28T20:50:40Z
dc.date.available2012-09-28T20:50:40Z
dc.date.issued2012-06en_US
dc.degree.disciplineBiological Sciencesen_US
dc.degree.levelMaster of Science (M.Sc.)en_US
dc.description.abstractPredator harassment is an anti-predator behaviour that may increase a harasser’s risk of predation but decrease the potential for predation for other members of a group. The Cape ground squirrel (Xerus inauris) is a facultative cooperative breeder from southern Africa that harasses venomous snakes. The objective of my study was to examine predator harassment to determine: 1) whether predator harassment was part of alloparental care by comparing harassment behaviour among age and sex classes; 2) how individuals adjusted their behaviour against different snake species; 3) whether olfaction was used in discrimination of snakes; and 4) if individuals possessed venom resistance against venomous snakes. I found that females with juvenile offspring harass snakes longer and more intensely than other individuals, suggesting that predator harassment was a maternal behaviour. Squirrels increased harassment, inspection and vigilant behaviours with risk when exposed to both live snakes and snake odours suggesting they can use olfaction to discriminate snake predators. I also found no venom resistance in Cape ground squirrels concluding the cost of envenomation was significant.en_US
dc.description.noteFebruary 2013en_US
dc.identifier.citationPhillips, M.A., Waterman, J.M., Du Plessis, P., Smit, M. & Bennett, N.C. 2012. No evidence for proteolytic venom resistance in southern African ground squirrels. Toxicon, 60: 760-763.en_US
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/1993/9223
dc.language.isoengen_US
dc.publisherToxiconen_US
dc.rightsopen accessen_US
dc.subjectanti-predatoren_US
dc.subjectanimal behaviouren_US
dc.subjectpredator harassmenten_US
dc.subjectmobbingen_US
dc.subjectpredator discriminationen_US
dc.subjectvenom resistanceen_US
dc.subjectCape ground squirrelen_US
dc.subjectSouth Africaen_US
dc.titleSnake harassment in the Cape ground squirrel (Xerus inauris): variation in anti-predator behaviours, predator discrimination and venom resistance in a facultative cooperative breeder.en_US
dc.typemaster thesisen_US
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