Behavioral Plasticity and Foraging Efficiency of Small Mammals in Response to Seasonal Resource Fluctuations in Fragmented Forests

Abstract

The small mammal communities of fragmented forest habitats face great limitations from seasonal fluctuations in resources. In the present study, behavioral plasticity and foraging efficiency were explored for three small mammal species (Rattus, Suncus murinus and Bandicota bengalensis) in fragmented forests in south-east Asia during the various seasons of the year. Foraging activity, consumption of resources, and body condition indices were identified during field sampling over 24 months (2019-2021). The relationships between habitat fragmentation, seasonal resource availability, and behavioral flexibility were analyzed. Results showed a significant difference in activity patterns among seasons with small mammals showing higher foraging time in dry seasons (8.2 ± 1.4 hours/day) than in monsoon season (4.6 ± 0.9 hours/day). Foraging efficiency (calories eaten per minute of foraging) was significantly lower (0.34 ± 0.08 kcal/min) in highly fragmented habitats than in continuously forested habitats (0.68 ± 0.12 kcal/min). Behavioral plasticity indices showed that small mammals altered their foraging behavior and habitat utilization to cope with resource scarcity, with more significant changes in continuous versus fragmented forest habitats. Resource supplementation in the season had no significant effect on survival in continuous habitat, but had a positive effect in fragmented habitat, yet it was not enough to offset the loss of structural connectivity. Results show that some behavioral plasticity can help dampen the effects of unpredictable resources and habitat fragmentation, while maintaining the persistence of small mammal populations depends upon maintaining forest connectivity and temporal stability of resources.