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Conspecific alarm cues, but not predator cues alone, determine antipredator behavior of larval southern marbled newts, Triturus pygmaeus

Conspecific alarm cues, but not predator cues alone, determine antipredator behavior of larval... Predation imposes selection on the ability of prey to recognize and respond to potential threats. Many prey species detect predators via chemoreception, particularly in aquatic environments. Also, chemical cues from injured prey are often perceived as an indication of predation risk. However, because antipredatory behavior can be costly, prey responses should depend on the current level of risk that each predator poses, which may depend on the type of chemical cues detected. We exposed larval newts, Triturus pygmaeus, to chemical cues from predator larval beetles or to alarm cues from conspecific larval newts and examined the behavioral changes of larval newts. Results showed that larval newts reduced activity levels when conspecific alarm cues were present but not when the predator cues alone were present. These results might suggest that larval newts are unable to recognize predator chemicals. To avoid costs of unnecessary antipredatory behaviors, larval newts may benefit by avoiding only predators that represent a current high level of threat, showing only antipredatory responses when they detect conspecific alarm cues indicating that an actual predatory attack has occurred. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png acta ethologica Springer Journals

Conspecific alarm cues, but not predator cues alone, determine antipredator behavior of larval southern marbled newts, Triturus pygmaeus

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Publisher
Springer Journals
Copyright
Copyright © 2012 by Springer-Verlag and ISPA
Subject
Life Sciences; Behavioral Sciences; Zoology; Evolutionary Biology
ISSN
0873-9749
eISSN
1437-9546
DOI
10.1007/s10211-012-0123-3
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

Predation imposes selection on the ability of prey to recognize and respond to potential threats. Many prey species detect predators via chemoreception, particularly in aquatic environments. Also, chemical cues from injured prey are often perceived as an indication of predation risk. However, because antipredatory behavior can be costly, prey responses should depend on the current level of risk that each predator poses, which may depend on the type of chemical cues detected. We exposed larval newts, Triturus pygmaeus, to chemical cues from predator larval beetles or to alarm cues from conspecific larval newts and examined the behavioral changes of larval newts. Results showed that larval newts reduced activity levels when conspecific alarm cues were present but not when the predator cues alone were present. These results might suggest that larval newts are unable to recognize predator chemicals. To avoid costs of unnecessary antipredatory behaviors, larval newts may benefit by avoiding only predators that represent a current high level of threat, showing only antipredatory responses when they detect conspecific alarm cues indicating that an actual predatory attack has occurred.

Journal

acta ethologica – Springer Journals

Published: Feb 17, 2012

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