Predator recognition of chemical cues in crayfish: diet and experience influence the ability to detect predation threats

Behaviour ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 155 (6) ◽  
pp. 505-530 ◽  
Author(s):  
Molly C. Beattie ◽  
Paul A. Moore
Keyword(s):  
Chemical Cues ◽  
Predator Recognition ◽  
Potential Predator ◽  
Dietary Cues ◽  
Predator Response ◽  
Threat Levels

AbstractAquatic prey often alter their morphology, physiology, and/or behaviour when presented with predatory chemical cues which are heavily influenced by the diet of the predator. We tested the roles that diet and prey familiarity with predators play in the ability of prey to recognize predator threats. Odours from two fish, bass and cichlid fed a vegetarian, protein, heterospecific, and a conspecific diet, were collected and presented to virile crayfish in a choice arena. Our results show that crayfish altered their behaviour in the presence of odours containing conspecific, as opposed to heterospecific diets, but only from familiar predators. A reduced anti-predator response was measured with odours from an unfamiliar predator fed conspecific crayfish. Therefore, crayfish may be able to determine different threat levels based on the different dietary cues from a potential predator, but only when the prey have familiarity with the predators.

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.

Is the reaction to chemical cues of predators affected by age or experience in fire salamanders (Salamandra salamandra)?

2014 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 189-196 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alejandro Ibáñez ◽  
Barbara A. Caspers ◽  
Pilar López ◽  
José Martín ◽  
E. Tobias Krause
Keyword(s):  
Chemical Cues ◽  
Predator Recognition ◽  
Test Arena ◽  
Potential Predator ◽  
Predator Prey ◽  
Chemical Recognition ◽  
Behavioural Reaction ◽  
Salamandra Salamandra ◽  
In Fire

Predation is one of the strongest forces driving natural selection. Predator success reduces future prey fitness to zero. Thus, recognition and avoidance of a potential predator is an essential fitness-relevant skill for prey. Being well equipped in the predator-prey arms race is highly adaptive. In this context we tested whether age and/or potential experience of fire salamanders (Salamandra salamandra) affected their behaviour towards the chemical signature of a potential predator. We evaluated the space use of salamanders in a test arena with a shelter containing chemical cues from a predator (i.e., a rat) and a clean shelter. Our results demonstrate that naïve subadult fire salamanders do show a significant behavioural reaction towards rat odour. However, they do not avoid the chemical cues of the potential predator, but instead have a significant preference for the shelter with rat faeces. In contrast to this, both the naïve adult and wild-caught adult fire salamanders showed neither a preference nor an avoidance of rat scent. These results could suggest a role of age in odour-based predator recognition in salamanders. Similarly, predator recognition through chemical cues could be more important early in life when the young fire salamanders are more vulnerable to predatory attacks and less important in other life stages when salamanders are less subjected to predation. In conclusion, future studies considering wild-caught subadults should disentangle the importance of previous experience for predator chemical recognition.

Antipredatory behaviour of a mountain lizard towards the chemical cues of its predatory snakes

Behaviour ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 155 (10-12) ◽  
pp. 817-840 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zaida Ortega ◽  
Abraham Mencía ◽  
Valentín Pérez-Mellado
Keyword(s):  
Chemical Cues ◽  
Slow Motion ◽  
Antipredator Behaviour ◽  
Behavioural Pattern ◽  
Potential Predator ◽  
Snake Species ◽  
Antipredatory Behaviour ◽  
Antipredatory Response ◽  
Natrix Maura ◽  
Coronella Austriaca

Abstract The ability to early detect a potential predator is essential for survival. The potential of Iberolacerta cyreni lizards to discriminate between chemical cues of their two predatory snakes Coronella austriaca (a non-venomous active-hunter saurophagous specialist) and Vipera latastei (a venomous sit-and-wait generalist) was evaluated herein. A third snake species, Natrix maura, which does not prey on lizards, was used as a pungent control. Thus, the behaviour of I. cyreni was studied regarding four treatments: (1) C. austriaca scent, (2) V. latastei scent, (3) N. maura scent and (4) odourless control. Lizards showed antipredator behaviour (such as slow-motion and tail waving) to C. austriaca and V. latastei chemicals. The antipredatory response was similar for both predators. This ability to react with an intensive behavioural pattern to the chemical cues of their predatory snakes may prevent lizards from being detected, and, if detected, dissuade the predator from beginning a pursuit.

Comment on "Predator classification by the sea pen Ptilosarcus gurneyi (Cnidaria): role of waterborne chemical cues and physical contact with predatory sea stars"

2003 ◽  
Vol 81 (3) ◽  
pp. 556-558 ◽  
Author(s):  
James E Dalby Jr ◽  
Joel K Elliott
Keyword(s):  
Chemical Cues ◽  
Predator Recognition ◽  
Physical Contact ◽  
Sea Stars ◽  
Behavioural Responses ◽  
The 1960S

In their study of behavioural responses of pennatulaceans to physical contact with asteroids in 2002, Weightman and Arsenault claim to be the first to demonstrate that cnidarians have the ability to distinguish predators from nonpredators. In fact, it has been known since at least the 1960s that cnidarians are capable of predator recognition. We briefly describe some of the abundant literature on this topic, especially studies on anthozoans.

Effects of potential predator and competitor cues and sibship on wood frog (Rana sylvatica) embryos

2009 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 294-298 ◽  
Author(s):  
Geoffrey Smith ◽  
Christopher Dibble ◽  
Evan Zuzik ◽  
Jessica Rettig ◽  
Jamie Kauffman
Keyword(s):  
Aquatic Ecosystems ◽  
Chemical Cues ◽  
Rana Sylvatica ◽  
Wood Frog ◽  
Potential Prey ◽  
Potential Predator ◽  
Risk Sensitive ◽  
Frog Development ◽  
Mean Time ◽  
Hatchling Size

AbstractChemical cues emitted from predators or competitors are often important for animals living in aquatic ecosystems as they allow potential prey to assess predation risk and make appropriate risk-sensitive responses. In our experiment, we examined if wood frog (Rana sylvatica) embryos exposed to potential predator and competitor cues would alter their time to hatching, size at hatching, or survivorship. Eggs from four different sibships were subjected to a variety of cues including dragonfly larvae (potential tadpole predator), mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis; a non-native potential egg and tadpole predator), and overwintered tadpoles of Rana sp. (potential competitors). We found no significant effects of any of the cues. However, we did find significant variation in mean time to hatching and mean hatchling size among sibships. Our results suggest that wood frog embryos may have limited ability to respond to some cues at the embryonic stage, at least for the concentrations and conditions used in this experiment. Our results do indicate genetic or parental effects can affect embryonic wood frog development rate and hatchling size.

scholarly journals Social learning of predators in the dark: understanding the role of visual, chemical and mechanical information

2013 ◽  
Vol 280 (1765) ◽  
pp. 20130720 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. P. Manassa ◽  
M. I. McCormick ◽  
D. P. Chivers ◽  
M. C. O. Ferrari
Keyword(s):  
Social Learning ◽  
Information Transfer ◽  
Chemical Cues ◽  
Sensory Modality ◽  
Reef Fishes ◽  
Sensory Cues ◽  
Learning Context ◽  
Modes Of Transmission ◽  
Predator Response

The ability of prey to observe and learn to recognize potential predators from the behaviour of nearby individuals can dramatically increase survival and, not surprisingly, is widespread across animal taxa. A range of sensory modalities are available for this learning, with visual and chemical cues being well-established modes of transmission in aquatic systems. The use of other sensory cues in mediating social learning in fishes, including mechano-sensory cues, remains unexplored. Here, we examine the role of different sensory cues in social learning of predator recognition, using juvenile damselfish ( Amphiprion percula ). Specifically, we show that a predator-naive observer can socially learn to recognize a novel predator when paired with a predator-experienced conspecific in total darkness. Furthermore, this study demonstrates that when threatened, individuals release chemical cues (known as disturbance cues) into the water. These cues induce an anti-predator response in nearby individuals; however, they do not facilitate learnt recognition of the predator. As such, another sensory modality, probably mechano-sensory in origin, is responsible for information transfer in the dark. This study highlights the diversity of sensory cues used by coral reef fishes in a social learning context.

FORAGING TRADE-OFFS AND PREDATOR INSPECTION IN AN OSTARIOPHYSAN FISH: SWITCHING FROM CHEMICAL TO VISUAL CUES

Behaviour ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 137 (2) ◽  
pp. 181-195 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph Cowan ◽  
Grant Brown
Keyword(s):  
Yellow Perch ◽  
Visual Cues ◽  
Chemical Cues ◽  
Potential Predator ◽  
Trade Off ◽  
Predator Inspection ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Risk Of Predation ◽  
Ad Libitum ◽  
Predator Behaviour

AbstractUnder laboratory conditions, we investigated the presence of a foraging trade-off in the chemical predator inspection behaviour of finescale dace (Chrosomus neogaeus). Dace were fed ad libitum, or food deprived for 24 or 48 hours and allowed to inspect a live yellow perch (Perca flavescens) in the presence of the chemical cues of a perch fed dace (with alarm pheromone) or swordtails (Xiphophorus helleri; without alarm pheromones). Dace exposed to the odour of a perch fed swordtails exhibited no evidence of a trade-off in either anti-predator behaviour or predator inspection behaviour. When fed ad libitum and exposed to the odour of a perch fed dace, individuals exhibited significantly greater anti-predator behaviour (increased shoaling, decreased area use and greater frequency of dashing and freezing behaviour) when compared to the swordtail diet control. Predator inspection behaviour was also significantly affected (increased latency to inspect and minimum distance approached towards the predator and fewer inspectors per visit). However, when food deprived for 24 or 48 hours, dace exhibited no differences in either anti-predator or predator inspection behaviour when exposed to the odour of perch fed dace versus perch fed swordtails. These data demonstrate that predator inspection behaviour based on the chemical cues of a potential predator is subject to foraging trade-offs and that individual prey may reduce their overall risk of predation by increasing the use of visual cues.

scholarly journals Generalization of predator recognition: Velvet geckos display anti-predator behaviours in response to chemicals from non-dangerous elapid snakes

2010 ◽  
Vol 56 (3) ◽  
pp. 337-342 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan K. Webb ◽  
Weiguo Du ◽  
David Pike ◽  
Richard Shine
Keyword(s):  
Chemical Cues ◽  
Prey Species ◽  
Predator Recognition ◽  
Risk Of Predation ◽  
Long Time ◽  
Time Periods

Abstract Many prey species detect chemical cues from predators and modify their behaviours in ways that reduce their risk of predation. Theory predicts that prey should modify their anti-predator responses according to the degree of threat posed by the predator. That is, prey should show the strongest responses to chemicals of highly dangerous prey, but should ignore or respond weakly to chemicals from non-dangerous predators. However, if anti-predator behaviours are not costly, and predators are rarely encountered, prey may exhibit generalised antipredator behaviours to dangerous and non-dangerous predators. In Australia, most elapid snakes eat lizards, and are therefore potentially dangerous to lizard prey. Recently, we found that the nocturnal velvet gecko Oedura lesueurii responds to chemicals from dangerous and non-dangerous elapid snakes, suggesting that it displays generalised anti-predator behaviours to chemicals from elapid snakes. To explore the generality of this result, we videotaped the behaviour of velvet geckos in the presence of chemical cues from two small elapid snakes that rarely consume geckos: the nocturnal golden-crowned snake Cacophis squamulosus and the diurnal marsh snake Hemiaspis signata. We also videotaped geckos in trials involving unscented cards (controls) and cologne-scented cards (pungency controls). In trials involving Cacophis and Hemiaspis chemicals, 50% and 63% of geckos spent long time periods (> 3 min) freezing whilst pressed flat against the substrate, respectively. Over half the geckos tested exhibited anti-predator behaviours (tail waving, tail vibration, running) in response to Cacophis (67%) or Hemiaspis (63%) chemicals. These behaviours were not observed in control or pungency control trials. Our results support the idea that the velvet gecko displays generalised anti-predator responses to chemical cues from elapid snakes. Generalised responses to predator chemicals may be common in prey species that co-occur with multiple, ecologically similar, dangerous predators.

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