Download or read book Predation Risk Assessment and the Anti Predator Behavioral Dynamics of Larval Anurans written by Michael Edward Fraker and published by . This book was released on 2007 with total page 418 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Risk Assessment and Behavioral Choices of Larval Anurans Lithobates Sphenocephalus written by Molly A. Albecker and published by . This book was released on 2011 with total page 70 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Larval anurans assess risk and make behavioral choices to avoid predation. Since antipredator behaviors may reduce foraging opportunities, prey behavioral decisions can be constrained by a tradeoff between survival and growth. To improve our understanding of prey risk assessment, I asked whether L. sphenocephalus tadpoles make antipredator behavioral choices based on characteristics of predators such as their lethality, microhabitat use, or taxonomic group. To test this question, I ran an experiment in aquaria that included 13 treatments (6 predators x lethal/nonlethal plus a no-predator control), replicated eight times in a temporal block design. Three predators occupy benthic microhabitats (white crayfish, Pachydiplax dragonfly larvae, and pirate perch), and three occupy pelagic microhabitats (bluegill sunfish, broken-striped newt, and fishing spider). I made behavioral observations of each aquarium twice during each trial, and recorded the prey remaining at the end of each 20-hour trial. Prey antipredator behaviors differed when in the presence of predators from different microhabitats or different taxonomic groupings. When confronted with vertebrate predators (e.g., the fish and the newt) fewer proportions of tadpoles were outside of refuges. The predator microhabitat usage impacted activity levels of tadpoles, as significantly fewer tadpoles were active when presented with a pelagic predator. Species-specific reactions appeared to play a role as large numbers of tadpoles avoided the benthos when sharing habitat with the crayfish. The proportions of visible and moving tadpoles were different between observation periods, which indicates that tadpoles are able to progressively gauge whether the presence of a predator is a threat, since tadpoles increased their visibility and movement levels during the second observation period in nonlethal treatments. Predator lethality did not impact which antipredator behavior was chosen by the tadpole, but it did appear to affect the strength of the response. Predator characteristics such as microhabitat use, taxonomic affiliation, and lethality influence tadpoles as they determine the potential threat of predation and the appropriate behavioral response.
Download or read book Structural Refuge Mediates Predation Risk by Dragonfly Nymphs on Larval Anurans written by Thomas J. Hossie and published by . This book was released on 2009 with total page 144 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Predation is a ubiquitous process governing ecological communities, and although interactions between predators and their prey have received much theoretical and empirical study, we have yet to fully appreciate the complexity of these interactions. Using a tadpole (prey) - dragonfly nymph (predator) system I demonstrate that increasing the abundance of structural cover shifted the functional response from inversely densitydependant to a density-dependant response. Such a shift can theoretically enhance stability in predator-prey dynamics and although widely accepted in theoretical models rigorous demonstration had previously eluded empiricists. By marrying observations of predator and prey behaviour, I contrast predator- and prey-centric mechanisms underlying this shift in the functional response and provide support for a predator-centric mechanism. In a second study, I sought to determine the relative risk posed to fooddeprived vs. well-fed prey when both prey density and the abundance of structural cover were varied in a factorial design. Our manipulations had non-trivial effects on prey behaviour, and prey anti-predator response was primarily restricted to increased refuge use. Although the presence of a refuge reduced overall prey consumption, our manipulations did not incur strong variations in mortality risk between food treatments, implying that the link between food availability and mortality risk is subtle. Thus my work demonstrates that refuge use is a uniquely important component of anti-predator ii defense, and variation in the availability and use of structural cover is an important factor influencing prey mortality risk.
Download or read book Ecology Systematics and the Natural History of Predaceous Diving Beetles Coleoptera Dytiscidae written by Donald A. Yee and published by Springer. This book was released on 2014-07-14 with total page 484 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Predaceous diving beetles (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae) constitute one of the largest families of freshwater insects (~ 4,200 species). Although dytiscid adults and larvae are ubiquitous throughout a variety of aquatic habitats and are significant predators on other aquatic invertebrates and vertebrates, there are no compilations that have focused on summarizing the knowledge of their ecology, systematics, and biology. Such knowledge would benefit anyone working in aquatic systems where dytiscids are an important part of the food web. Moreover, this work will allow a greater appreciation of dytiscids as model organisms for investigations of fundamental principles derived from ecological and evolutionary theory. Contributed chapters are by authors who are actively engaged in studying dytiscids and each chapter offers a synthesis of the current knowledge of a variety of topics and will provide future directions for research.
Download or read book Ecology of Predator Prey Interactions written by Pedro Barbosa and published by Oxford University Press. This book was released on 2005-08-11 with total page 413 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book addresses the fundamental issues of predator-prey interactions, with an emphasis on predation among arthropods, which have been better studied, and for which the database is more extensive than for the large and rare vertebrate predators. The book should appeal to ecologists interested in the broad issue of predation effects on communities.
Download or read book Biological Invasions and Animal Behaviour written by Judith S. Weis and published by Cambridge University Press. This book was released on 2016-10-13 with total page 367 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book provides a comprehensive look at the critical role of animal behaviour in the success and impact of biological invasions.
Download or read book Antipredator Defenses in Birds and Mammals written by Timothy M. Caro and published by University of Chicago Press. This book was released on 2005-09 with total page 609 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Tim Caro explores the many & varied ways in which prey species have evolved defensive characteristics and behaviour to confuse, outperform or outwit their predators, from the camoflaged coat of the giraffe to the extraordinary way in which South American sealions ward off the attacks of killer whales.
Download or read book The Ecology and Behavior of Amphibians written by Kentwood D. Wells and published by University of Chicago Press. This book was released on 2010-02-15 with total page 1162 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Consisting of more than six thousand species, amphibians are more diverse than mammals and are found on every continent save Antarctica. Despite the abundance and diversity of these animals, many aspects of the biology of amphibians remain unstudied or misunderstood. The Ecology and Behavior of Amphibians aims to fill this gap in the literature on this remarkable taxon. It is a celebration of the diversity of amphibian life and the ecological and behavioral adaptations that have made it a successful component of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Synthesizing seventy years of research on amphibian biology, Kentwood D. Wells addresses all major areas of inquiry, including phylogeny, classification, and morphology; aspects of physiological ecology such as water and temperature relations, respiration, metabolism, and energetics; movements and orientation; communication and social behavior; reproduction and parental care; ecology and behavior of amphibian larvae and ecological aspects of metamorphosis; ecological impact of predation on amphibian populations and antipredator defenses; and aspects of amphibian community ecology. With an eye towards modern concerns, The Ecology and Behavior of Amphibians concludes with a chapter devoted to amphibian conservation. An unprecedented scholarly contribution to amphibian biology, this book is eagerly anticipated among specialists.
Download or read book Biology and Management of White tailed Deer written by David G. Hewitt and published by CRC Press. This book was released on 2011-06-24 with total page 668 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Winner of the Wildlife Society Outstanding Edited Book Award for 2013! Winner of the Texas Chapter of The Wildlife Society Outstanding Book Award for 2011! Winner of a CHOICE Outstanding Academic Title Award for 2011! Biology and Management of White-tailed Deer organizes and presents information on the most studied large mammal species in the world. The book covers the evolutionary history of the species, its anatomy, physiology, and nutrition, population dynamics, and ecology across its vast range (from central Canada through northern South America). The book then discusses the history of management of white-tailed deer, beginning with early Native Americans and progressing through management by Europeans and examining population lows in the early 1900s, restocking efforts through the mid 1900s, and recent, overabundant populations that are becoming difficult to manage in many areas. Features: Co-published with the Quality Deer Management Association Compiles valuable information for white-tailed deer enthusiasts, managers, and biologists Written by an authoritative author team from diverse backgrounds Integrates white-tailed deer biology and management into a single volume Provides a thorough treatment of white-tailed deer antler biology Includes downloadable resources with color images The backbone of many state wildlife management agencies' policies and a featured hunting species through much of their range, white-tailed deer are an important species ecologically, socially, and scientifically in most areas of North America. Highly adaptable and now living in close proximity to humans in many areas, white-tailed deer are both the face of nature and the source of conflict with motorists, home-owners, and agricultural producers. Capturing the diverse aspects of white-tailed deer research, Biology and Management of White-tailed Deer is a reflection of the resources invested in the study of the species’ effects on ecosystems, predator-prey dynamics, population regulation, foraging behavior, and browser physiology.
Download or read book Escaping From Predators written by William E. Cooper, Jr and published by Cambridge University Press. This book was released on 2015-05-28 with total page 459 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: When a predator attacks, prey are faced with a series of 'if', 'when' and 'how' escape decisions – these critical questions are the foci of this book. Cooper and Blumstein bring together a balance of theory and empirical research to summarise over fifty years of scattered research and benchmark current thinking in the rapidly expanding literature on the behavioural ecology of escaping. The book consolidates current and new behaviour models with taxonomically divided empirical chapters that demonstrate the application of escape theory to different groups. The chapters integrate behaviour with physiology, genetics and evolution to lead the reader through the complex decisions faced by prey during a predator attack, examining how these decisions interact with life history and individual variation. The chapter on best practice field methodology and the ideas for future research presented throughout, ensure this volume is practical as well as informative.
Download or read book Antipredator Defenses Determine an Adaptive Response to Stress in Neotoma Fuscipes written by Carson Balfour Keller and published by . This book was released on 2018 with total page 49 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Research in predator-prey relationships has often focused on the direct consumptive impacts that predators have on prey. However, we are beginning to understand that direct consumption only represents a portion of the total effect that predators have on prey. Fear effects are the indirect effects that predators have on prey and are a result of antipredator defenses to perceived risk. These responses have shown to cause declines in survival, reproduction, and foraging behavior, potentially leading to changes in population dynamics and, ultimately, community structure. I examined how dusky-footed woodrats (Neotoma fuscipes) cope with acute and chronic perceived predation risk by experimentally elevating predator odor for wild and captive individuals in Southern California. I measured concurrent behavioral and physiological effects of increased perceived risk using giving-up densities and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. An index of body condition was derived by correcting mass for differences in body size (i.e. skull width) between individuals. Perceived risk was manipulated using native predator odor (bobcat urine); predator urine has been demonstrated as a perceived risk to many rodent species. My results reveal that N. fuscipes exhibits an acute behavioral and stress hormone response. However, they demonstrate no significant negative changes in foraging rates, body condition, and stress hormone levels under chronic exposure to risk. The lack of any measurable response to a chronic stressor suggests that a chronic response may not have evolved in this species and may be unnecessary due to its short lifespan, non-cyclic lifecycle, and primary ambush predator. Habituation may also play a role as an adaptive response to a continuous environmental stressor. Therefore, the interplay between prey life-history traits with behavioral and physiological responses may be essential to understanding indirect effects of fear. Research into how life-history traits may drive evolutionary responses to predators may help to discern if such traits constrain antipredator behaviors. Understanding the role fear has in altering predator-prey relationships may allow for a better understanding of eco-evolutionary dynamics and the ecosystem-wide impacts that changes in these relationships can induce.
Download or read book Predator Prey Dynamics written by Michael R. Conover and published by CRC Press. This book was released on 2007-03-30 with total page 266 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Humans, being visually oriented, are well versed in camouflage and how animals hide from predators that use vision to locate prey. However, many predators do not hunt by sight; they hunt by scent. This raises the question: do survival mechanisms and behaviors exist which allow animals to hide from these olfactory predators? If so, what are they, a
Download or read book Avoiding Attack written by Graeme D. Ruxton and published by Oxford University Press, USA. This book was released on 2004-10-21 with total page 262 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book discusses the evolution of the mechanisms by which prey avoid attack by their potential predators and questions how such defences are maintained through natural selection. Topics covered include camouflage, warning signals and mimicry.
Download or read book Dynamic Behavior of Predators and Prey in a Multihabitat System written by Angélique Dupuch and published by Editions Universitaires Europeennes. This book was released on 2010-04 with total page 192 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Understanding predator-prey interactions, and particularly their reciprocal responses, is a central topic in ecology. Many studies have explored habitat use by both predators and prey, and have shown that prey prefer the predator-poor habitats and predators the prey-rich ones. However, these studies mostly focused on the behaviour of predators and prey when the distribution of the other species was fixed in space. Theoretical and empirical knowledge of predators and prey space use when both are allowed to move freely are scarce. Within this framework, this thesis focuses on both the antipredator behaviour and habitat selection by a prey species, northern redbelly dace (Phoxinus eos), when exposed to a predation risk varying in intensity in both space and time.
Download or read book The Ecology and Evolution of Inducible Defenses written by Ralph Tollrian and published by Princeton University Press. This book was released on 1999-01-17 with total page 402 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Inducible defenses--those often dramatic phenotypic shifts in prey activated by biological agents ranging from predators to pathogens--are widespread in the natural world. Yet research on the inducible defenses used by vertebrates, invertebrates, and plants in terrestrial, marine, and freshwater habitats has largely developed along independent lines. Tollrian and Harvell bring together leading researchers from all fields to review common themes and explore emerging ideas. Contributors examine organisms as different as unicellular algae and higher vertebrates, and consider defenses ranging from immune systems to protective changes in morphology, behavior, chemistry, and life history.
Download or read book Chemical Ecology in Aquatic Systems written by Christer Brönmark and published by . This book was released on 2012-03 with total page 318 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: However, our knowledge of this "chemical network" is still negligible.
Download or read book Metabolic Physiological and Behavioral Responses of Prey to Predation written by Richard Trone and published by . This book was released on 2015 with total page 64 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Predators are known to cause prey to alter their morphology, life history or behavior in ways that reduce the likelihood of the prey being consumed by the predator. Seldom considered, however, are the consequences of predators on internal morphology (e.g., gut length) or physiology of prey. Such consideration is important because these traits likely affect prey growth and could explain why prey often grow more slowly in the presence of predators. Furthermore, a history of exposure to predators may alter how strongly visual or chemical signals from predators affect prey physiology and behavior. I raised larval frogs in artificial ponds that either lacked or contained a caged fish predator and assessed whether rearing environment affected prey gut length, morphology, behavior, and metabolic rate. I also assessed whether the rearing environment affected the metabolic and behavioral response of larval frogs to either short-term visual or chemical signals from fish by measuring the metabolism and behavior of predator naïve and predator exposed larval frogs when exposed to short-term visual and/or chemical signals from fish. Tadpoles raised with predators had shorter guts but long-term predator exposure had no effect on the metabolic rate of tadpoles, body mass, or survival. The effect of long-term predator exposure on tadpole shape depended on body size. Occurrence of predators caused tadpole shape to differ for both small and large tadpoles but not tadpoles of the average body size. Short-term exposure to chemical cues from predators altered the metabolic rate of naïve tadpoles but not tadpoles with prior exposure to predators. Smaller naïve tadpoles reduced their metabolic rate but larger naïve tadpoles enhanced their metabolic rate in response to short-term chemical cues. Chemical cues caused the metabolic rate of naïve tadpoles to be 24% greater than that observed in tadpoles that were reared with predators. Short-term visual cues did not influence the metabolic rate of any tadpoles. Prior exposure to predators did not cause tadpoles to differ in their activity levels or their likelihood to seek a refuge. Exposure to short-term chemical cues increased the number of naïve tadpoles seeking a refuge. Short-term visual cues resulted in more predator exposed tadpoles hiding in a refuge. My results indicate that long-term exposure to predators may compromise the ability of prey to extract resources by causing prey to develop shorter guts. These results further suggest the greater activity of predator exposed tadpoles to be a result of a less efficient digestion system requiring increased foraging effort but the risk of increased activity in the face of predation may be mitigated to some degree by modifications to body shape. This study supports the idea that there are complex interactions among physiology, behavior, and morphology in predator-prey interactions.
