scholarly journals Dropping to escape: a review of an under-appreciated antipredator defence

2018 ◽  
Vol 94 (2) ◽  
pp. 575-589 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rosalind K. Humphreys ◽  
Graeme D. Ruxton
Keyword(s):  
Antipredator Defence

scholarly journals Deimatism: a neglected component of antipredator defence

2017 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 20160936 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kate D. L. Umbers ◽  
Sebastiano De Bona ◽  
Thomas E. White ◽  
Jussi Lehtonen ◽  
Johanna Mappes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sensory Input ◽  
Sudden Change ◽  
Fundamental Difference ◽  
Neural Mechanisms ◽  
Survival Advantage ◽  
Antipredator Defence

Deimatic or ‘startle’ displays cause a receiver to recoil reflexively in response to a sudden change in sensory input. Deimatism is sometimes implicitly treated as a form of aposematism (unprofitability associated with a signal). However, the fundamental difference is, in order to provide protection, deimatism does not require a predator to have any learned or innate aversion. Instead, deimatism can confer a survival advantage by exploiting existing neural mechanisms in a way that releases a reflexive response in the predator. We discuss the differences among deimatism, aposematism, and forms of mimicry, and their ecological and evolutionary implications. We highlight outstanding questions critical to progress in understanding deimatism.

scholarly journals Drop when the stakes are high: adaptive, flexible use of dropping behaviour by aphids

Behaviour ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-21
Author(s):  
Rosalind K. Humphreys ◽  
Graeme D. Ruxton ◽  
Alison J. Karley
Keyword(s):  
Host Plant ◽  
Acyrthosiphon Pisum ◽  
Adalia Bipunctata ◽  
Macrosiphum Euphorbiae ◽  
Herbivorous Insects ◽  
Chrysoperla Carnea ◽  
Pea Aphids ◽  
Potato Aphids ◽  
Antipredator Defence

Abstract For herbivorous insects, dropping from the host plant is a commonly-observed antipredator defence. The use of dropping compared to other behaviours and its timing in relation to contact with a predator was explored in both pea aphids (Acyrthosiphon pisum) and potato aphids (Macrosiphum euphorbiae). Pea aphids dropped more frequently in response to ladybird adults (Adalia bipunctata) than lacewing larvae (Chrysoperla carnea). Potato aphids mainly walked away or backed-up in response to both predator types; but they dropped more frequently relative to other non-walking defences when faced with ladybird adults. Contact with a predator was an important influencer of dropping for both species, and most drops occurred from adjacent to the predator. Dropping appears to be a defence adaptively deployed only when the risk of imminent predation is high; factors that increase dropping likelihood include presence of faster-foraging predators such as adult ladybirds, predator proximity, and contact between aphid and predator.

Antipredator defence of the hermit crab Pagurus filholi induced by predatory crabs

Oikos ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 102 (1) ◽  
pp. 104-110 ◽  
Author(s):  
Azusa Mima ◽  
Satoshi Wada ◽  
Seiji Goshima
Keyword(s):  
Hermit Crab ◽  
Pagurus Filholi ◽  
Antipredator Defence

scholarly journals Female sticklebacks transfer information via eggs: effects of maternal experience with predators on offspring

2010 ◽  
Vol 278 (1712) ◽  
pp. 1753-1759 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric R. Giesing ◽  
Cory D. Suski ◽  
Richard E. Warner ◽  
Alison M. Bell
Keyword(s):  
Predation Risk ◽  
Gasterosteus Aculeatus ◽  
Somatic Growth ◽  
Maternal Exposure ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Maternal Experience ◽  
Egg Formation ◽  
Shoaling Behaviour ◽  
Genetic Mechanisms ◽  
Antipredator Defence

There is growing evidence that maternal experience influences offspring via non-genetic mechanisms. When female three-spined sticklebacks ( Gasterosteus aculeatus ) were exposed to the threat of predation, they produced larger eggs with higher cortisol content, which consumed more oxygen shortly after fertilization compared with a control group. As juveniles, the offspring of predator-exposed mothers exhibited tighter shoaling behaviour, an antipredator defence. We did not detect an effect of maternal exposure to predation risk on the somatic growth of fry. Altogether, we found that exposure to an ecologically relevant stressor during egg formation had several long-lasting consequences for offspring, some of which might be mediated by exposure to maternally derived cortisol. These results support the hypothesis that female sticklebacks might influence the development, growth and behaviour of their offspring via eggs to match their future environment.

scholarly journals The Winner Takes it All: Risk Factors and Bayesian Modelling of the Probability of Success in Escaping from Big Cat Predation

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 51
Author(s):  
Sergio Fernández Moya ◽  
Carlos Iglesias Pastrana ◽  
Carmen Marín Navas ◽  
María Josefa Ruíz Aguilera ◽  
Juan Vicente Delgado Bermejo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Prey Species ◽  
Time Lapse ◽  
Physical Contact ◽  
Public And Private ◽  
Predator Species ◽  
Digital Platforms ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Probability Of Success ◽  
Parsimonious Model ◽  
Antipredator Defence

The individuals engaged in predation interactions modify their adaptation strategies to improve their efficiency to reach success in the fight for survival. This success is linked to either capturing prey (predator) or escaping (prey). Based on the graphic material available on digital platforms both of public and private access, this research aimed to evaluate the influence of those animal- and environment-dependent factors affecting the probability of successful escape of prey species in case of attack by big cats. Bayesian predictive analysis was performed to evaluate the outcomes derived from such factor combinations on the probability of successful escape. Predator species, age, status at the end of the hunting act, time lapse between first attention towards potential prey and first physical contact, prey species and the relief of the terrain, significantly conditioned (p < 0.05) escape success. Social cooperation in hunting may be more important in certain settings and for certain prey species than others. The most parsimonious model explained 36.5% of the variability in escaping success. These results can be useful to design translatable selective strategies not only seeking to boost predation abilities of domestic felids for pest control, but also, biological antipredator defence in potential domestic prey of big cats.

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