TY - JOUR T1 - Sexual segregation results in differences in content and quality of bison (Bos bison) diets JF - Journal of Mammalogy Y1 - 2001 A1 - Post, D.M. A1 - Armbrust, T.A. A1 - Horne, E.A. A1 - Goheen, J. KW - bison KW - Bos bison KW - diet composition KW - diet quality KW - sexual segregation AB - We examined diets of bison (Bos bison) bulls, cows, juveniles, and calves to determine differences in quality of diets between groups. Our results showed that bulls had a significantly higher proportion of C4 grasses in their diet than cows, juveniles, or calves. Diets of calves were of higher quality than diets of bulls, cows, or juveniles. Our results provide support for the sexual dimorphism–body size hypothesis of sexual segregation in large ungulates. VL - 82 ER - TY - JOUR T1 - Influence of maternal diet and perishability on caching and consumption behavior of juvenile eastern woodrats JF - Journal of Mammalogy Y1 - 1998 A1 - Post, D.M. A1 - McDonald, M.W. A1 - Reichman, O.J. KW - caching KW - diet KW - juveniles KW - learning KW - Neotoma floridana KW - woodrats AB - We tested the hypotheses that juvenile eastern woodrats (Neotoma floridana) learned to select appropriate foods to cache by cues from the maternal diet and that the effect of perishability affected caching and consumption behavior of juvenile woodrats. In May 1993, female woodrats were mated and placed on a diet of garlic-flavored chow. Females in group A were fed garlic-flavored chow until offspring were weaned. Females in group B were fed garlic-flavored chow until parturition and then were placed on a diet of standard laboratory chow. All offspring were weaned at 45 days postpartum and maintained on a diet of standard laboratory chow. In October and November 1993, juveniles were tested to determine their preference for caching and consumption of garlic-flavored chow or a novel (mint) flavored chow. Juveniles in group A cached more garlic-flavored chow than juveniles in group B (P = 0.04). There was no difference between groups in the amount of garlic chow consumed (P = 0.5). Naive juveniles preferred to cache dry apple (P = 0.01) but preferred to consume fresh apple (P = 0.01). The outcome of our experiments suggests that maternal diet influences the cache-food selection of naive woodrats. Further, naive juvenile woodrats treat perishable and non-perishable foods in a manner similar to adults suggesting that their response to such foods is not learned. VL - 79 ER - TY - JOUR T1 - Antimicrobial activity of dogwood fruits (Cornus drummondii) from winter food caches of the eastern woodrat (Neotoma floridana ) JF - Journal of Chemical Ecology Y1 - 1995 A1 - Post, D.M. A1 - Urban, J.E. KW - antimicrobial activity KW - Bacillus psychrophilus KW - caching KW - Cornus drummondii KW - dogwood fruit KW - eastern woodrat KW - Escherichia coli KW - Neotoma floridana KW - Staphlococcus aureus AB - Post-harvest loss of resources to microbial competitors affects a number of species of animals, and many of them have evolved behaviors that reduce the likelihood of such loss. We previously described the inhibition ofBacillus psychrophilus by dogwood fruits (Cornus drummondii), which can comprise a significant portion of the winter food cache of the eastern woodrat (Neotoma floridana). The present study is a further investigation of the ability of dogwood fruits to inhibit growth ofB. psychrophilus. Additionally, we tested the antimicrobial activity of dogwood fruits onEscherichia coli andStaphlococcus aureus. Results of our study indicate that fresh fruits inhibit the growth ofB. psychrophilus andS. aureus but notE. coli. However, fruits taken from woodrat dens after four and six months storage inhibited growth of all three species of bacteria. Further, the strength of inhibition increased over the test period. We suggest the presence of an inhibitor allows woodrats to compete effectively for a valuable and limited food resource. VL - 21 ER - TY - JOUR T1 - Changes in microbial populations from eastern woodrat caches JF - Southwestern Naturalist Y1 - 1993 A1 - Post, D.M. A1 - Urban, J.E. AB - Change in microbial populations on three plant foods commonly stored over winter by eastern woodrats (Neotoma floridana) was assessed. It was expected that dogwood fruits (Cornus drummondii) would be affected by microbes to a greater degree than ash seed (Fraxinus pennsylvanica) or redbud seed (Cercis canadensis). Results revealed a change in microbial populations over time but dogwood fruit was no more liable to microbial infestation than seeds. One bacterial species was found in high number on all three food types while three species were found on only two of the three foods. Microbial populations from all three test items increased from November to January but March populations were not different from November populations. It is suggested that climatic factors help to control microbial populations on cache foods. VL - 38 ER - TY - JOUR T1 - Characteristics and significance of the caches of eastern woodrats (Neotoma floridana ) JF - Journal of Mammalogy Y1 - 1993 A1 - Post, D.M. A1 - Reichman, O.J. A1 - Wooster, D. KW - caching KW - dens KW - eastern woodrats KW - energy KW - food storage KW - Neotoma floridana AB - Caches from eastern woodrat (Neotoma floridana) dens were analyzed for plant-species composition, abundance, and energy content. Body mass and sex of den residents and the den volume were measured to determine correlations with energy content of caches. We found no difference between males and females in den volume or energy content of caches. However, a positive correlation existed between body mass of the cache owner and the amount of energy stored in the cache, such that larger individuals had a disproportionately greater reserve of energy stored in caches than did smaller individuals. The disparity suggests that small individuals are forced to forage outside the den more often than large individuals. VL - 74 ER - TY - JOUR T1 - Detection of differences in nutrient concentrations by eastern woodrats (Neotoma floridana ) JF - Journal of Mammalogy Y1 - 1993 A1 - Post, D.M. AB - I tested the ability of a small generalist herbivore, the eastern woodrat (Neotoma floridana), to detect differences in concentrations of protein, energy, and lipid available in two nutritionally complex diet items. Within 24 h of exposure to diets, woodrats consumed a greater amount of a standard diet than diets reduced in energy or lipid by 5, 10, or 20% and a diet reduced by 20% in protein. However, they did not choose the standard over diets reduced in protein by 5 or 10%. When consumption was summed over the 9-day duration of choice trials, individuals chose the standard diet over reduced diets. The ability of woodrats to detect relatively small differences in nutrient concentrations should allow them to make efficient use of available foods. VL - 74 UR - http://www.jstor.org/stable/1382409 ER - TY - JOUR T1 - Change in nutrient content of foods stored by eastern woodrats (Neotoma florida) JF - Journal of Mammalogy Y1 - 1992 A1 - Post, D.M. AB -

I determined changes in nutrient content of plants cached by eastern woodrats (Neotoma floridana) after 60 and 120 days storage in a cache environment. The energy content of dogwood fruits (Cornus drummondii) declined significantly due to a decline in lipid content. Concentrations of other nutrients in dogwood fruits remained relatively stable as did nutrient concentrations of green ash seed (Fraxinus pennsylvanica) and redbud seed (Cercis canadensis). However, some small fluctuations in nutrients were observed. The decrease in energy content of cache material may have a significant negative impact on some woodrats that have only a limited amount of food stored in caches.

VL - 73 ER - TY - THES T1 - An analysis of factors affecting the caching behavior of the eastern woodrat (Neotoma floridana) Y1 - 1991 A1 - Post, D.M. PB - Kansas State University CY - Manhattan, KS VL - PhD Dissertation ER - TY - JOUR T1 - Effects of food perishability, distance, and competitors on caching behavior of eastern woodrats JF - Journal of Mammalogy Y1 - 1991 A1 - Post, D.M. A1 - Reichman, O.J. VL - 72 ER -