Turtle nest sensory perception by raccoon (Procyon lotor) and striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis) : an approach through discrimination learning of potential nest cues

• Main Author: Galois, Patrick.
• Other Authors: Bider, Roger J. (advisor)
• Format: Others
• Language: en
• Published: McGill University 1996
• Subjects: Predation (Biology); Raccoon > Sense organs.; Striped skunk > Sense organs.; Perception in animals.; Perceptual learning.; Turtles > Nests.; Turtles > Eggs.
• Online Access: http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=42038

Egg predation may be the most important mortality factor for North American turtles. This predation can destroy 50-90% of nests in an area. The major predators are striped skunks (Mephitis mephitis) and raccoons (Procyon lotor). Despite differences in their habits and diet, these species appear equally efficient in turtle egg predation, even though these eggs represent a very small portion of their annual food intake. Sight, olfaction, touch and hearing could be used by these predators to find the nests. The aim of this study was to document intra and inter-specific differences in the perception of possible nest-cues used by raccoon and striped skunk. Choice-tests based on food-conditioning were carried out with two visual cues (dark and smooth surface), one olfactory cue (turtle urine) and one tactile cue (soil compaction). Subject performances (number of trials to obtain 80% success rate in the different tests) were compared to assess intra and inter-species, and skunk inter-age differences in sensory perception and learning abilities. As expected raccoons learned the tactile cue discrimination faster than the visual cue discriminations. The tactile cue discrimination was learned as fast as the olfactory cue. As expected skunks learned the olfactory cue discrimination faster than other cue discriminations. When compared, the olfactory cue appeared to be as important for both species even though raccoons had faster learning rates than skunks in all the tests except for one visual test. Juvenile skunks learned faster than adult skunks with four out of six juveniles performing better in the olfactory test. Olfaction may play an important role in nest localization by raccoons and skunks, and sight may also play a role for raccoons. Learning turtle nest cues while with their mother could facilitate their future ability in locating turtle nests.