title: Foraging decisions in wild versus domestic Mus musculus: What does life in the lab select for?
abstract: What does domestication select for in terms of foraging and anti-predator behaviors? We applied principles of patch use and foraging theory to test foraging strategies and fear responses of three strains of Mus musculus: wild-caught, control laboratory, and genetically modified strains. Foraging choices were quantified using giving-up densities (GUDs) under three foraging scenarios: (1) patches varying in microhabitat (covered versus open), and initial resource density (low versus high); (2) daily variation in auditory cues (aerial predators and control calls); (3) patches with varying seed aggregations. Overall, both domestic strains harvested significantly more food than wild mice. Each strain revealed a significant preference for foraging under cover compared to the open, and predator calls had no detectable effects on foraging. Both domestic strains biased their harvest toward high quality patches; wild mice did not. In terms of exploiting favorable and avoiding unfavorable distributions of seeds within patches, the lab strain performed best, the wild strain worst, and the mutant strain in between. Our study provides support for hypothesis that domestic animals have more energy-efficient foraging strategies than their wild counterparts, but retain residual fear responses. Furthermore, patch-use studies can reveal the aptitudes and priorities of both domestic and wild animals.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA. Electronic address: stroxe2@uic.edu.
authors.forename: Sandra M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Troxell-Smith
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA.
authors.forename: Michal J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Tutka
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA.
authors.forename: Jessica M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Albergo
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA.
authors.forename: Deebika
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Balu
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA.
authors.forename: Joel S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA.
authors.forename: John P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Leonard
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000829:Animals, Domestic / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology*; D000835:Animals, Wild / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology*; D002755:Choice Behavior; D003463:Cues; D017753:Ecosystem; D005239:Fear / Q000502:physiology; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL / Q000502:physiology; D011235:Predatory Behavior / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Domestication; Fear response; Foraging strategies; Giving-up density; House mice; Mus musculus