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How does the tassel-eared squirrel use chemical cues when choosing ponderosa pine twigs?
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Chemoreception
Animals, such as this pine grosbeak, use chemoreception to respond to chemicals that can be tasted and smelled in their environments. Many of these chemicals affect behaviors such as food preference and defense.
The tassel-eared squirrel utilizes chemoreception to evaluate the chemical composition of ponderosa pines when selecting twigs for its winter food supply. Specifically, these squirrels demonstrate a preference for collecting twigs that contain low concentrations of α-pinene, which is a type of monoterpene.1
By detecting and discriminating against higher levels of such plant secondary metabolites, the squirrel is able to optimize its food selection through innate or learned behavioral responses. This process highlights how herbivores often use chemical cues to avoid substances that may be deterrents or less nutritionally favorable.1