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Table 2 Changes in locomotor behavior of voles during the four phases of the barn-owl attack, compared with controls that were not exposed to the owl. Voles under owl attack were classified into 'freeze' and 'flee' groups, with the former minimizing and the latter increasing their speed during owl attack.Data (means ± SEM) are arranged according to activity, temporal structure, and spatial distribution (see 'Methods'). The results of two-way ANOVA are depicted for Groups (Control vs. Owl), Phases (the four phases of owl attack) and the interaction Groups × Phases. Distance was normalized per minute, and locomoting time was calculated as percent of the respective phase to bypass the different duration of each phase in each individual. [Statistical comparisons were not carried out on activity parameters since they are linked with speed, as animals were divided according to their speed].

From: Rodents in open space adjust their behavioral response to the different risk levels during barn-owl attack

Behavior

Phase

Control

Freeze

Flee

Groups F2,16; P

Phases F3,48; P

Interaction F6,48; P

ACTIVITY

Distance (m./min.)

Pre-appearance

6.01 ± 0.50

5.21 ± 1.09

3.29 ± 0.85

   
 

Appearance

5.15 ± 0.68

0.86 ± 0.26

2.90 ± 1.78

   
 

Attack

4.86 ± 0.89

0.0 ± 0.0

59.78 ± 10.62

   
 

Post-attack

4.37 ± 0.89

4.11 ± 3.04

21.60 ± 9.05

   

Locomoting time (% of phase)

Pre-appearance

33.47 ± 2.72

25.02 ± 4.30

15.14 ± 4.54

   
 

Appearance

23.02 ± 3.00

3.55 ± 2.13

5.85 ± 2.92

   
 

Attack

22.40 ± 3.86

0.0 ± 0.0

100.0 ± 0.0

   
 

Post-attack

19.63 ± 3.96

6.47 ± 4.33

29.18 ± 12.61

   

TEMPORAL STRUCTURE

Trip length (m.)

Pre-appearance

8.53 ± 2.26

6.28 ± 2.11

5.57 ± 1.80

3.14; ns

6.74; <0.001

2.61; ns

 

Appearance

6.28 ± 0.90

2.18 ± 0.93

4.70 ± 1.44

   
 

Attack

7.02 ± 2.17

0.0 ± 0.0

1.20 ± 0.30

   
 

Post-attack

6.41 ± 2.28

6.43 ± 2.17

5.30 ± 1.84

   

# Stops per trip

Pre-appearance

12.24 ± 3.39

8.30 ± 2.35

6.97 ± 0.85

5.99; ns

8.23; <0.001

3.16; 0.01

 

Appearance

9.15 ± 1.64

4.27 ± 1.70

5.42 ± 2.19

   
 

Attack

10.13 ± 3.30

1.00 ± 0.0

0.0 ± 0.0

   
 

Post-attack

9.26 ± 2.98

3.10 ± 0.24

3.17 ± 0.58

   

Inter-stop distance (m.)

Pre-appearance

0.70 ± 0.03

0.77 ± 0.10

0.81 ± 0.29

2.43; ns

10.16; <0.001

6.70; <0.001

 

Appearance

0.72 ± 0.05

0.45 ± 0.09

1.77 ± 1.10

   
 

Attack

0.65 ± 0.07

0.0 ± 0.0

1.20 ± 0.30

   
 

Post-attack

0.61 ± 0.08

2.00 ± 0.53

1.42 ± 0.49

   

SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION

Time at perimeter (% of phase)

Pre-appearance

66.67 ± 4.65

59.00 ± 8.03

62.84 ± 13.31

0.696; ns

5.07; 0.003

2.54; ns

 

Appearance

67.27 ± 5.43

82.99 ± 11.10

87.29 ± 7.17

   
 

Attack

69.67 ± 6.75

85.71 ± 14.29

33.33 ± 21.08

   
 

Post-attack

71.84 ± 5.91

94.63 ± 2.91

85.21 ± 8.72

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