Quolls, and foxes and ants Oh my! Ecological Impacts Ann and Marieke

In the Y-maze experiment the Pygmy mouse stayed away from the arm with crushed S. invicta. How do these mice species (Oldfield mice included) know to avoid S. invicta?

The study doesn’t address the differing numbers of mice visiting each tray - do you think that may have affected the results?

Researchers found a species of native fire ant occurring at the trays. What questions does this raise?

If ant is present and it is not rainy, mouse prefers exposed tray –Because mouse takes seed out of exposed tray and consumes seeds under shelter In sheltered tray mouse stays there to consume seeds Can this be explained?

Rain may decrease ability of ants to recruit nest mates by plugging tunnels and interfering with pheromone signaling –How can we test this hypothesis?

Classify the impact of S. invicta (genetic, individual, population, community, ecosystem, global)

Researchers only analyzed the last 2 min of the pre-test and post-test period (tape player running only). –How does this accurately assess response to predator?

Design a training program for quolls to teach them the proper response to fox vocalizations.

Researchers mention in the introduction that predators hunt in silence and prey use acoustic signals from conspecifics to detect the presence of a predator. –Why do they use predator vocalizations in this study?

Do you think the type of vocalization used matters? –Feeding interaction vocalization of devil –territorial call of owl –Call to owner by cat

Is time spent moving by a juvenile quoll an appropriate measure of danger? Is vigilance?

Is this evidence of learning throughout a quoll’s lifetime that fox = danger?