Small mammals play a crucial role in maintaining healthy forests • Earth.com

Deep in the Penobscot Experimental Forest in Maine, a team of researchers has discovered a fascinating phenomenon involving small mammals.

These woods, about 10 miles north of Bangor, are littered with hidden treasures—not gold or jewels, though, but seeds from the white pine tree.

These seed caches were strategically placed by researchers to study the behavior of the forest's small mammal inhabitants.

Behavior of small mammals in the forest

This fascinating study is led by Brigit Humphreys, a doctoral student at the University of Maine, as part of her National Science Foundation-funded research.

For the past two years, Humphreys has been studying how the personalities of small mammals influence their behavior, particularly in relation to seed dispersal.

Their work is part of a larger, eight-year project, now nearing completion, aimed at understanding the role of individual animal personalities in ecological processes.

Ecological significance

The aim of the project was to find out how the personality of small mammals and the personality of animals in general influences various ecological processes.

“We focus on small mammals because they are abundant, we get a really good sample size, and we can do experiments with them in the forest. Seed dispersal is critical to Maine's economy, recreation, and aesthetics,” Humphreys explained.

This research sheds light on an often overlooked aspect of ecology: individual behavioral differences within species.

By focusing on these differences, Humphreys aims to highlight their importance for ecosystems, tree growth and forest regeneration.

Thieves caught red-handed

Led by Professor Alessio Mortelliti of the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Conservation Biology, Humphreys and her team conducted their fieldwork from June to October 2022.

They set traps for various small mammals, including squirrels, chipmunks, mice, voles and shrews, in a system of six grids in the forest. Each animal caught was marked and its personality traits were recorded.

After removing the traps from each grid, the team placed artificial seed caches equipped with circular antennas to detect the tagged animals and installed trail cameras to capture footage of the animals stealing the seeds.

Discover personality traits

Humphreys' findings show that the personality of small mammals significantly influences their success in semen theft.

“We found that more curious deer mice are more likely to find hiding places to steal,” notes Humphreys. “They're out and about more and aren't as concerned about the risk of predation, so they find these hiding places and steal them.”

The research also showed that thinner animals are more likely to steal due to hunger, and that female voles are more likely to steal seeds, which is consistent with previous research on vole behavior.

Unexpected thieves

Throughout the study, the team observed different species raiding the caches.

“Over 10 different species came and plundered the supplies,” says Humphreys. “Some came unexpectedly, like raccoons. The other common thieves were American squirrels, chipmunks, shrews and jerboas.”

Even with a small number of jumping mice, their effectiveness was remarkable. “The ones that were present in our area were very effective. They took out about 10 hiding places in one night,” adds Humphreys.

Small mammals, healthy forests, happy planet

Humphreys' research, recently published in the Journal of Animal Ecology, highlights the importance of individual behavioral diversity within species.

“The most important message from all our research is that individuals matter,” she concludes. “There is a lot of pressure in the scientific community to conserve biodiversity, but beyond species diversity, we also need to protect behavioral diversity within a species if we really want to have fully functioning ecosystems.”

In summary, as we delve deeper into the secret lives of forest dwellers, Brigit Humphreys and her team at the University of Maine continue to unravel the complex relationships between the personalities of small mammals and the ecosystems they inhabit.

Their research not only highlights the importance of individual characteristics in shaping forest dynamics, but also the need to preserve behavioral diversity within species.

By understanding and preserving the unique personalities of these furry thieves, we can ensure the health, resilience and beauty of our forests for years to come.

Next time you take a walk in the woods, remember that beneath the tranquil canopy, a vibrant cast of characters are busy stealing, exploring, and shaping the world around them – one stolen seed at a time.

The full study was published in the journal Journal of Animal Ecology.

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