Relationships between rodents and oak species were established a long time ago. Some species of rodent play a role in dispersing oak seeds by transporting acorns. However, the presence of raptors in the treetops, where rodents collect acorns, can halt the process due to the rodents' fear of being preyed upon.
In this study, we investigated how raptors influence the behavior of rodents when handling acorns. We found that species that have consumed acorns for a long time reduce their activity and stop transporting them when raptors are present in the treetops. Rodent species that do not inhabit oak areas do not alter their behavior in response to raptors because they do not perceive them as a threat.
