Conditioned taste aversion can reduce egg predation by rats
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Published source details
Massei G., Lyon A.J. & Cowan D.P. (2002) Conditioned taste aversion can reduce egg predation by rats. Journal of Wildlife Management, 66, 1134-1140.
Published source details Massei G., Lyon A.J. & Cowan D.P. (2002) Conditioned taste aversion can reduce egg predation by rats. Journal of Wildlife Management, 66, 1134-1140.
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This study is summarised as evidence for the following.
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Use aversive conditioning to reduce nest predation by mammalian predators Action Link |
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Use aversive conditioning to reduce nest predation by mammalian predators
A randomised, replicated and controlled ex situ experiment in the UK (Messi et al. 2002) found that administering thiabendazole orally to 33 rats after they ate either a chicken Gallus gallus domesticus or quail Cortunix coturnix egg reduced the rate that they subsequently fed on either chicken or quail eggs, compared to control rats. Experimental rats ate 83% fewer eggs over eight post-conditioning tests and spent 80% less time eating eggs. No rats offered the same type (chicken or quail) of egg as in the experiment ate it in the first post-conditioning trial and only 20% of those offered the alternative egg ate it. All effects grew weaker over the eight post-conditioning tests, with most experimental combinations being indistinguishable from controls after eight tests.
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