Perceived Predation Risk Affects Mammal Behavior at Amazonian Mineral Licks

Abstract

Mineral licks are critical resources for herbivores in Amazonia and other tropical regions which may be deficient in dietary minerals or consuming alkaloid-laced leaves which may cause gastrointestinal issues. However, mineral licks are also important locations for predators, including human hunters. Animals visiting mineral licks must balance the benefits of relief of physiological stressors with the risk of predation, and they may employ behavioral adaptations to do so. We used camera trap data on six large-bodied mammal species at 52 mineral licks in the same watershed in the Peruvian Amazon to assess how mineral licks contribute to visiting species' perception of risk. We tested the effects of a range of covariates including direct and indirect measures of risk, habitat characteristics, and soil properties on visit duration, a behavioral adaptation species may use to mitigate risk, in a generalized linear mixed-effects modeling framework. Tapirs, collared peccaries, and paca minimized visit duration in risky licks, while howler monkeys, red brocket deer, and black agoutis had higher visit duration in risky licks, potentially due to increased vigilance and reduced feeding efficiency. The strong relationships between risk and behavior across species demonstrates the ecological value of mineral licks for both predators and prey, as prey must seek mineral licks but at great cost. Conserving mineral licks in landscapes may be a critical component to the conservation of both herbivores and carnivores in Amazonia, and for food security of local people.