The influence of early experience on escape behaviour in the guppy (Poecilia reticulata)

1986 ◽  
Vol 64 (4) ◽  
pp. 885-888 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wayne Goodey ◽  
N. R. Liley
Keyword(s):  
Escape Response ◽  
Predator Avoidance ◽  
Poecilia Reticulata ◽  
Chemical Cues ◽  
Learning Experience ◽  
Early Experience ◽  
Heterogeneous Environments ◽  
Early Exposure ◽  
Escape Behaviour ◽  
Piscivorous Fish

Guppies (Poecilia reticulata) with or without experience of being chased by adult conspecifics were exposed first to a model "aerial predator" to assess the magnitude of their escape response, then to live piscivorous fish to assess their escape ability. Early experience had some influence on response magnitude but a greater influence on escape ability. Guppies that were chased when young by adult conspecifics required significantly more attacks before they were captured than either guppies that had no experience of being chased or guppies exposed to only visual or chemical cues associated with chasing by adults. Conditioning of predator-avoidance behaviour by early exposure to chasing by potential predators may be an advantage in the physically and biotically heterogeneous environments occupied by the guppy, and chasing by adult conspecifics may provide part of the learning experience.

scholarly journals Effects of parasites upon non-host predator avoidance behaviour in native and invasive gammarids

Parasitology ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Sajad Farahani ◽  
Per J. Palsbøll ◽  
Ido Pen ◽  
Jan Komdeur
Keyword(s):  
Invasive Species ◽  
Definitive Host ◽  
Predator Avoidance ◽  
Gasterosteus Aculeatus ◽  
Chemical Cues ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Fundamental Question ◽  
Intermediate Hosts ◽  
Gammarus Fossarum ◽  
Acanthocephalan Parasite

Abstract The acanthocephalan parasite, Polymorphus minutus, manipulates its intermediate hosts' (gammarids) behaviour, presumably to facilitate its transmission to the definitive hosts. A fundamental question is whether this capability has evolved to target gammarids in general, or specifically sympatric gammarids. We assessed the responses to chemical cues from a non-host predator (the three-spined sticklebacks Gasterosteus aculeatus) in infected and non-infected gammarids; two native (Gammarus pulex and Gammarus fossarum), and one invasive (Echinogammarus berilloni) species, all sampled in the Paderborn Plateau (Germany). The level of predator avoidance was assessed by subjecting gammarids to choice experiments with the presence or absence of predator chemical cues. We did not detect any behavioural differences between uninfected and infected G. pulex and E. berilloni, but an elevated degree of predator avoidance in infected G. fossarum. Avoiding non-host predators may ultimately increase the probability of P. minutus' of predation by the definitive host. Our results suggested that P. minutus' ability to alter the host's behaviour may have evolved to specifically target sympatric gammarid host species. Uninfected gammarids did not appear to avoid the non-host predator chemical cues. Overall the results also opened the possibility that parasites may play a critical role in the success or failure of invasive species.

Changes in the predator-avoidance behaviour of juvenile guppies (Poecilia reticulata) exposed to pentachlorophenol

1985 ◽  
Vol 63 (9) ◽  
pp. 2001-2005 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph A. Brown ◽  
Peter H. Johansen ◽  
Patrick W. Colgan ◽  
R. Alastair Mathers
Keyword(s):  
Largemouth Bass ◽  
Predator Avoidance ◽  
Poecilia Reticulata ◽  
Micropterus Salmoides ◽  
Avoidance Behaviour ◽  
General Behaviour ◽  
Treatment Groups ◽  
Predator Attack ◽  
High Treatment ◽  
Predator Efficiency

The effects of pentachlorophenol on the predator-avoidance behaviour of the guppy (Poecilia reticulate) in response to largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) predation was investigated. There were no consistent effects of pentachlorophenol on habitat use or general behaviour of the guppies. In the presence of predators, all guppies occurred significantly more often alone, motionless, and in the top third of the water column in the nonopen areas. Nine variables associated with predator efficiency were monitored to determine which treatment groups of guppies were easiest to capture. The bass had significantly lower capture success, performed more strikes and chases, and spent more time chasing guppies from the untreated and 100 μg/L groups than those from the 500 and 700 μg/L groups. This suggests that the guppies from the two high treatment groups had a slower response to predator attack and could not maintain a prolonged escape burst of speed.

Female pheromone and the behaviour of male guppies (Poecilia reticulata) in a temperature gradient

1985 ◽  
Vol 63 (5) ◽  
pp. 1211-1213 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. H. Johansen
Keyword(s):  
Sex Pheromone ◽  
Temperature Gradient ◽  
Poecilia Reticulata ◽  
Chemical Cues ◽  
Water Mixture ◽  
Horizontal Temperature Gradient ◽  
Temperature Preference ◽  
Female Pheromone ◽  
Lower Temperature ◽  
Estradiol 17Β

When the two sexes of the guppy are tested separately in a horizontal temperature gradient apparatus, males show a significantly lower temperature preference (23.5 °C) than females (27.4 °C). However, when the two sexes are tested together, males select the same location as the females. Infusion of female holding water, which contains sex pheromone, results in the attraction of males to the site of infusion, as does the infusion of a water mixture of estradiol-17β, but not estrone, estriol, or testosterone. Temporarily plugging the nares, thereby blocking olfaction, prevents the males from responding to the chemical cues.

Optimization of Predator Avoidance by Salamanders Using Chemical Cues: Diet and Diel Effects

1999 ◽  
Vol 29 (6) ◽  
pp. 1073-1086
Author(s):  
Dale M. Madison ◽  
John C. Maerz ◽  
James H. McDarby
Keyword(s):  
Predator Avoidance ◽  
Chemical Cues

Escape behaviour in the stomatopod crustacean Squilla mantis, and the evolution of the caridoid escape reaction

2000 ◽  
Vol 203 (2) ◽  
pp. 183-192 ◽  
Author(s):  
W.J. Heitler ◽  
K. Fraser ◽  
E.A. Ferrero
Keyword(s):  
Escape Response ◽  
Large Diameter ◽  
Mechanical Vibration ◽  
Maximal Response ◽  
Escape Behaviour ◽  
Mantis Shrimp ◽  
Threshold Response ◽  
Low Threshold ◽  
Escape Reaction ◽  
Behavioural Evidence

The mantis shrimp Squilla mantis shows a graded series of avoidance/escape responses to visual and mechanical (vibration and touch) rostral stimuli. A low-threshold response is mediated by the simultaneous protraction of the thoracic walking legs and abdominal swimmerets and telson, producing a backwards ‘lurch’ or jump that can displace the animal by up to one-third of its body length, but leaves it facing in the same direction. A stronger response starts with similar limb protraction, but is followed by partial abdominal flexion. The maximal response also consists of limb protraction followed by abdominal flexion, but in this case the abdominal flexion is sufficiently vigorous to pull the animal into a tight vertical loop, which leaves it inverted and facing away from the stimulus. The animal then swims forward (away from the stimulus) and rights itself by executing a half-roll. A bilaterally paired, large-diameter, rapidly conducting axon in the dorsal region of the ventral nerve excites swimmeret protractor motoneurons in several ganglia and is likely to be the driver neuron for the limb-protraction response. The same neuron also excites unidentified abdominal trunk motoneurons, but less reliably. The escape response is a key feature of the malacostracan caridoid facies, and we provide the first detailed description of this response in a group that diverged early in malacostracan evolution. We show that the components of the escape response contrast strongly with those of the full caridoid reaction, and we provide physiological and behavioural evidence for the biological plausibility of a limb-before-tail thesis for the evolution of the escape response.

Escape Behaviour of Juvenile Psammodromus Algirus Lizards: Constraint of or Compensation for Limitations in Body Size?

Behaviour ◽  
1995 ◽  
Vol 132 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 181-192 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pilar López ◽  
José Martín
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Escape Response ◽  
Environmental Temperature ◽  
Escape Performance ◽  
Escape Behaviour ◽  
Approach Distance ◽  
Air Temperatures ◽  
Psammodromus Algirus ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Short Flight

AbstractWe compared the escape behaviour of juvenile and adult Psammodromus algirus lizards, by using data of escape performance in the laboratory and field observations of escape behaviour. We specifically examined whether a differential escape response is a constraint of body size, or whether juveniles behave differently in order to maximize their escape possibilities taking into account their size-related speed limitations. In the laboratory, juvenile lizards were slower than adult lizards, and escaped during less time and to shorter distances, even when removing the effect of body size. In the field, juveniles allowed closer approaches and after a short flight usually did not hide immediately, but did so after successive short runs if the attack persists. Approach distance of juveniles was not affected by habitat, but initial and total flight distances were shorter in covered microhabitats. There was no significant effect of environmental temperature on approach and initial flight distances of juveniles. However, the total flight distances were significantly correlated with air temperatures.

The alarm cue obstruction hypothesis: isopods respond to alarm cues, but do not respond to dietary chemical cues from predatory bluegill

Behaviour ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 152 (2) ◽  
pp. 167-179 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kari L. Spivey ◽  
Trevor L. Chapman ◽  
Alexandra L. Schmitz ◽  
Derek E. Bast ◽  
Amelia L.B. Smith ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Predator Avoidance ◽  
Chemical Cues ◽  
Lepomis Macrochirus ◽  
Predatory Fish ◽  
Alarm Cues ◽  
Potential Predator ◽  
Aquatic Macroinvertebrate ◽  
Reduce Activity ◽  
Dietary Cues ◽  
Limited Setting

Predator avoidance behaviours occur when prey detect a predator but the predator has not yet detected and identified prey. These defences are critical because they prevent predation at the earliest possible stages when prey have the best chance of escape. We tested for predator avoidance behaviours in an aquatic macroinvertebrate (Caecidotea intermedius; order Isopoda) in a series of three experiments. The first experiment attempted to determine if isopods possess alarm cues by exposing them to stimuli from macerated conspecifics. We then exposed isopods to kairomones from non-predatory tadpoles (Rana catesbiana) and predatory fish (Lepomis macrochirus) that had been fed a benign diet. Finally, we exposed isopods to kairomones of predatory fish that had been fed a diet exclusively of isopods. We found that isopods did not respond to any kairomone cues or dietary cues from any potential predator, but did reduce activity in response to alarm cues. These results suggest that isopods exhibit predator avoidance responses toward chemical cues in a limited setting (they do not respond unless the information suggests an attack has occurred in the immediate past) or that bluegill have the ability to modify or mask the alarm cues from their prey.

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