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Awareness of danger inside the egg: Evidence of innate and learned predator recognition in cuttlefish embryos. Learn Behav 2020; 48:401-410. [PMID: 32221844 DOI: 10.3758/s13420-020-00424-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Predation can be a very strong selective pressure on prey. Many studies have shown the existence of innate anti-predator responses, mostly in the early developmental stages of juvenile vertebrates. Learning to recognize predators is another possible defensive resource, but such a method involves a high death risk. There is evidence that prenatal learning exists in animals but few studies have explicitly tested for embryonic learning. The aim of this study was to test innate and learned predator recognition in cuttlefish embryos. For this, naïve embryos were exposed to chemical and visual cues emanating from predators, non-predators, and ink. Their response was assessed by measuring their ventilation rate (VR). We first show that VR decreased in response to both visual and chemical predatory cues and ink but not to non-predatory cues. Second, we show that when non-predatory cues (visual or chemical) are paired with predatory cues or ink for several days, embryonic VR significantly decreased. Such a response is likely adaptive, especially in a translucent egg, since it results in reduced movement and hence may lower the risk of detection by visual predators. This freezing-like behavior may also reduce the bioelectric field, thus lessening the predation risk by non-visual foragers. Our results report that cuttlefish embryos had an innate capacity to differentiate between harmless and harmful chemical and visual cues. They were also capable of learning to respond to harmless cues when they were paired with danger (predator or ink) based on conditioning. The combination of these behavioral mechanisms is an example of the early adaptability of cephalopods. Such behavioral plasticity may give the newly hatched cuttlefish a selective advantage when dealing with either known or unfamiliar threats. Nevertheless, more experiments are needed to test the efficiency of the embryos' response faced with known or new predators.
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2
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Gyuris E, Szép E, Kontschán J, Hettyey A, Tóth Z. Behavioural responses of two-spotted spider mites induced by predator-borne and prey-borne cues. Behav Processes 2017; 144:100-106. [PMID: 28882653 DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2017.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2017] [Revised: 08/29/2017] [Accepted: 09/01/2017] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Applying predatory mites as biological control agents is a well established method against spider mites which are major pests worldwide. Although antipredator responses can influence the outcome of predator-prey interactions, we have limited information about what cues spider mites use to adjust their behavioural antipredator responses. We experimentally exposed two-spotted spider mites (Tetranychus urticae) to different predator-borne cues (using a specialist predator, Phytoseiulus persimilis, or a generalist predator, Amblyseius swirskii), conspecific prey-borne cues, or both, and measured locomotion and egg-laying activity. The reactions to predator species compared to each other manifested in reversed tendencies: spider mites increased their locomotion activity in the presence of P. persimilis, whereas they decreased it when exposed to A. swirskii. The strongest response was triggered by the presence of a killed conspecific: focal spider mites decreased their locomotion activity compared to the control group. Oviposition activity was not affected by either treatment. Our results point out that spider mites may change their behaviour in response to predators, and also to the presence of killed conspecifics, but these effects were not enhanced when both types of cues were present. The effect of social contacts among prey conspecifics on predator-induced behavioural defences is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enikő Gyuris
- Lendület Evolutionary Ecology Research Group, Plant Protection Institute, Centre for Agricultural Research, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Herman Ottó út 15, 1022 Budapest, Hungary; Department of Zoology, Plant Protection Institute, Centre for Agricultural Research, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Herman Ottó út 15, 1022 Budapest, Hungary.
| | - Erna Szép
- Lendület Evolutionary Ecology Research Group, Plant Protection Institute, Centre for Agricultural Research, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Herman Ottó út 15, 1022 Budapest, Hungary; Department of Zoology, Plant Protection Institute, Centre for Agricultural Research, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Herman Ottó út 15, 1022 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Jenő Kontschán
- Department of Zoology, Plant Protection Institute, Centre for Agricultural Research, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Herman Ottó út 15, 1022 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Attila Hettyey
- Lendület Evolutionary Ecology Research Group, Plant Protection Institute, Centre for Agricultural Research, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Herman Ottó út 15, 1022 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Zoltán Tóth
- Lendület Evolutionary Ecology Research Group, Plant Protection Institute, Centre for Agricultural Research, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Herman Ottó út 15, 1022 Budapest, Hungary
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3
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Pueta M, Perotti MG. Anuran tadpoles learn to recognize injury cues from members of the same prey guild. Anim Cogn 2016; 19:745-51. [PMID: 26968427 DOI: 10.1007/s10071-016-0971-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2015] [Revised: 02/22/2016] [Accepted: 02/26/2016] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Recognition of predation risk from cues released from injured heterospecific could be beneficial when prey belongs to the same prey guild. Here, we performed three experiments. Experiment 1 showed that P. thaul tadpoles reduced their activity levels when exposed to conspecific injury cues, but not when exposed to amphipod injury cues. Experiment 2 tested whether P. thaul tadpoles can learn to recognize predation risk from chemical cues released from injured heterospecifics from the same prey guild (amphipod, Hyalella patagonica). A group of tadpoles were conditioned by exposing them to a specific concentration of amphipod injury cues paired with conspecific injury cues. Two days later, we evaluated changes in the activity of tadpoles when they were exposed to amphipod cues. As a control of learning, we used an unpaired group. Additionally, we used more control groups to fully investigate the learning mechanism. Our results showed that tadpoles can learn to recognize predation risk from injured amphipods and that the mechanism underlying the observed learned response could be associative. Experiment 3 replicated Experiment 2 and also showed that a low concentration of amphipod cues did not sustain that learning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana Pueta
- Laboratorio de Fotobiología- INIBIOMA (CONICET-UNComa), Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medioambiente, Centro Regional Universitario Bariloche-Universidad Nacional del Comahue, San Carlos de Bariloche, Rio Negro, Argentina. .,Departamento de Biología General. (CRUB-UNComa), Centro Regional Universitario Bariloche-Universidad Nacional del Comahue, San Carlos de Bariloche, Rio Negro, Argentina.
| | - Maria Gabriela Perotti
- Laboratorio de Fotobiología- INIBIOMA (CONICET-UNComa), Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medioambiente, Centro Regional Universitario Bariloche-Universidad Nacional del Comahue, San Carlos de Bariloche, Rio Negro, Argentina
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Gutowsky L, Brownscombe J, Wilson A, Szekeres P, Cooke S. Improved performance, within-individual consistency and between-individual differences in the righting behaviour of the Caribbean sea star, Oreaster reticulatus. BEHAVIOUR 2016. [DOI: 10.1163/1568539x-00003401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Individuals cope differently to challenging and stressful situations. Being inverted is challenging and stressful for animals, as the position leaves them vulnerable to predators and desiccation. Although sea star self-righting was first studied in the 19th century, efforts to quantify patterns of within-individual consistency and among-individual differences are limited. Here we examined the performance and repeatability of righting behaviour in the Caribbean sea star (Oreaster reticulatus). Oreaster reticulatus were wild caught and transported to a nearby facility where they were inverted up to five times. Most animals improved their righting times and exhibited within-individual consistency and among individual differences in righting method. We posit that it may be favourable to employ a consistent righting method to effectively achieve an upright position. Predation pressure and stress physiology are hypothesized to shape individual differences in righting behaviour. Moreover, these results provide preliminary evidence of personality in sea stars.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lee F.G. Gutowsky
- Fish Ecology and Conservation Physiology Laboratory, Department of Biology, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, Canada K1S 5B6
| | - Jacob W. Brownscombe
- Fish Ecology and Conservation Physiology Laboratory, Department of Biology, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, Canada K1S 5B6
| | - Alexander D.M. Wilson
- Fish Ecology and Conservation Physiology Laboratory, Department of Biology, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, Canada K1S 5B6
| | - Petra Szekeres
- Fish Ecology and Conservation Physiology Laboratory, Department of Biology, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, Canada K1S 5B6
| | - Steven J. Cooke
- Fish Ecology and Conservation Physiology Laboratory, Department of Biology, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, Canada K1S 5B6
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Polo-Cavia N, Gomez-Mestre I. Learned recognition of introduced predators determines survival of tadpole prey. Funct Ecol 2013. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.12175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Nuria Polo-Cavia
- Department of Biology; Universidad Autónoma de Madrid; 28049 Madrid Spain
- Ecology, Evolution, and Development Group; Department of Wetland Ecology; Doñana Biological Station; CSIC; E-41092 Seville Spain
| | - Ivan Gomez-Mestre
- Ecology, Evolution, and Development Group; Department of Wetland Ecology; Doñana Biological Station; CSIC; E-41092 Seville Spain
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Johnston BR, Molis M, Scrosati RA. Predator chemical cues affect prey feeding activity differently in juveniles and adults. CAN J ZOOL 2012. [DOI: 10.1139/z11-113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Nonconsumptive predator effects on prey behaviour are common in nature, but the possible influence of prey life-history stage on such responses is poorly known. We investigated whether prey life-history stage may be a factor affecting prey feeding activity responses to predator chemical cues, for which we used dogwhelks ( Nucella lapillus (L., 1758)) and their main prey, barnacles ( Semibalanus balanoides (L., 1758)), as a model system. Barnacles use their modified legs (cirri) to filter food from the water column. Through a manipulative laboratory experiment, we tested the hypothesis that the presence of dogwhelks affects the frequency of leg swipes differently in juvenile and adult barnacles. Juveniles showed a similar feeding activity with and without nearby dogwhelks, but adults exhibited a significantly lower frequency of leg swipes when dogwhelks were present. Such an ontogenetic change in the response of barnacles to predatory cues might have evolved as a result of dogwhelks preferring adult barnacles over juvenile barnacles, as found previously. Alternatively, barnacles could learn to recognize predator cues as they age, as shown for other prey species. Overall, our study indicates that the nonconsumptive effects of predators on prey need to be fully understood under consideration of the possible ontogenetic changes in prey responses to predator cues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bradley R. Johnston
- Saint Francis Xavier University, Department of Biology, Antigonish, NS B2G 2W5, Canada
- Biologische Anstalt Helgoland, Section Functional Ecology, Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research, 27498 Helgoland, Germany
| | - Markus Molis
- Biologische Anstalt Helgoland, Section Functional Ecology, Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research, 27498 Helgoland, Germany
| | - Ricardo A. Scrosati
- Saint Francis Xavier University, Department of Biology, Antigonish, NS B2G 2W5, Canada
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Learning about non-predators and safe places: the forgotten elements of risk assessment. Anim Cogn 2011; 14:309-16. [PMID: 21203793 PMCID: PMC3078302 DOI: 10.1007/s10071-010-0363-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2010] [Revised: 11/17/2010] [Accepted: 11/19/2010] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
A fundamental prerequisite for prey to avoid being captured is the ability to distinguish dangerous stimuli such as predators and risky habitats from non-dangerous stimuli such as non-predators and safe locations. Most research to date has focused on mechanisms allowing prey to learn to recognize risky stimuli. The paradox of learned predator recognition is that its remarkable efficiency leaves room for potentially costly mistakes if prey inadvertently learn to recognize non-predatory species as dangerous. Here, we pre-exposed embryonic woodfrogs, Rana sylvatica, to the odour of a tiger salamander, Ambystoma tigrinum, without risk reinforcement, and later try to teach the tadpoles to recognize the salamander, a red-bellied newt Cynops pyrrhogaster—a closely related amphibian, or a goldfish, Carassiusauratus, as a predator. Tadpoles were then tested for their responses to salamander, newt or fish odour. Pre-exposure to salamander did not affect the ability of tadpoles to learn to recognize goldfish as a predator. However, the embryonic pre-exposure to salamanders inhibited the subsequent learning of salamanders as a potential predator, through a mechanism known as latent inhibition. The embryonic pre-exposure also prevented the learned recognition of novel newts, indicating complete generalization of non-predator recognition. This pattern does not match that of generalization of predator recognition, whereby species learning to recognize a novel predator do respond, but not as strongly, to novel species closely related to the known predator. The current paper discusses the costs of making recognition mistakes within the context of generalization of predators and dangerous habitats versus generalization of non-predators and safe habitats and highlights the asymmetry in which amphibians incorporate information related to safe versus risky cues in their decision-making. Mechanisms such as latent inhibition allow a variety of prey species to collect information about non-threatening stimuli, as early as during their embryonic development, and to use this information later in life to infer the danger level associated with the stimuli.
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Ferrari MC, Wisenden BD, Chivers DP. Chemical ecology of predator–prey interactions in aquatic ecosystems: a review and prospectusThe present review is one in the special series of reviews on animal–plant interactions. CAN J ZOOL 2010. [DOI: 10.1139/z10-029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 649] [Impact Index Per Article: 46.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The interaction between predator and prey is an evolutionary arms race, for which early detection by either party is often the key to success. In aquatic ecosystems, olfaction is an essential source of information for many prey and predators and a number of cues have been shown to play a key role in trait-mediated indirect interactions in aquatic communities. Here, we review the nature and role of predator kairomones, chemical alarm cues, disturbance cues, and diet cues on the behaviour, morphology, life history, and survival of aquatic prey, focusing primarily on the discoveries from the last decade. Many advances in the field have been accomplished: testing the survival value of those chemicals, providing field validation of laboratory results, understanding the extent to which chemically mediated learning may benefit the prey, understanding the role of these chemicals in mediating morphological and life-history adaptations, and most importantly, the selection pressures leading to the evolution of chemical alarm cues. Although considerable advances have been made, several key questions remain, the most urgent of which is to understand the chemistry behind these interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maud C.O. Ferrari
- Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan, 112 Science Place, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5E2, Canada
- Biosciences Department, Minnesota State University Moorhead, 1104 7th Avenue South, Moorhead, MN 56563, USA
| | - Brian D. Wisenden
- Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan, 112 Science Place, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5E2, Canada
- Biosciences Department, Minnesota State University Moorhead, 1104 7th Avenue South, Moorhead, MN 56563, USA
| | - Douglas P. Chivers
- Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan, 112 Science Place, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5E2, Canada
- Biosciences Department, Minnesota State University Moorhead, 1104 7th Avenue South, Moorhead, MN 56563, USA
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9
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Dalesman S, Rundle SD. Cohabitation enhances the avoidance response to heterospecific alarm cues in a freshwater snail. Anim Behav 2010. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2009.10.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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10
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Aizaki K, Yusa Y. Learned Predator Recognition in a Freshwater Snail,Pomacea canaliculata. MALACOLOGIA 2010. [DOI: 10.4002/040.052.0102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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11
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Function of mucus secretion by lamellose ormer, Haliotis tuberculata lamellosa, in response to starfish predation. Anim Behav 2009. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2009.08.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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12
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Ferrari MC, Chivers DP. Sophisticated early life lessons: threat-sensitive generalization of predator recognition by embryonic amphibians. Behav Ecol 2009. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arp135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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13
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Dalesman S, Rundle SD, Cotton PA. Crawl-out behaviour in response to predation cues in an aquatic gastropod: insights from artificial selection. Evol Ecol 2008. [DOI: 10.1007/s10682-008-9280-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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14
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Lukowiak K, Martens K, Rosenegger D, Browning K, de Caigny P, Orr M. The perception of stress alters adaptive behaviours in Lymnaea stagnalis. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2008; 211:1747-56. [PMID: 18490390 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.014886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Stress can alter adaptive behaviours, and as well either enhance or diminish learning, memory formation and/or memory recall. We show here that two different stressors have the ability to alter such behaviours in our model system, Lymnaea stagnalis. One, a naturally occurring stressor - the scent of a predator (crayfish) - and the other an artificially controlled one - 25 mmol l(-1) KCl - significantly alter adaptive behaviours. Both the KCl stressor and predator detection enhance long-term memory (LTM) formation; additionally predator detection alters vigilance behaviours. The predator-induced changes in behaviour are also accompanied by specific and significant alterations in the electrophysiological properties of RPeD1 - a key neuron in mediating both vigilance behaviours and memory formation. Naive lab-bred snails exposed to crayfish effluent (CE; i.e. the scent of the predator) prior to recording from RPeD1 demonstrated both a significantly reduced spontaneous firing rate and fewer bouts of bursting activity compared with non-exposed snails. Importantly, in the CE experiments we used laboratory-reared snails that have not been exposed to a naturally occurring predator for over 250 generations. These data open a new avenue of research, which may allow a direct investigation from the behavioral to the neuronal level as to how relevant stressful stimuli alter adaptive behaviours, including memory formation and recall.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ken Lukowiak
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, 3330 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
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Orr MV, El-Bekai M, Lui M, Watson K, Lukowiak K. Predator detection in Lymnaea stagnalis. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2008; 210:4150-8. [PMID: 18025014 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.010173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Laboratory-reared Lymnaea are capable of detecting and responding to the scent of a crayfish predator. The present investigation is a first attempt to characterize multiple stress-related behavioural responses resulting from predator detection and to depict the neurophysiological correlates of one of these illustrated behaviours. Snails respond to crayfish effluent (CE) by increasing the following behaviours: aerial respiration, exploratory/searching phase and sensitivity to the shadow-elicited full-body withdrawal response. In contrast, when snails detect CE they decrease both their righting response time when dislodged from the substratum and their basal cutaneous oxygen consumption. Interestingly, basal heart rate does not change in response to CE exposure. Finally, we directly measured the activity of the neuron that initiates aerial respiratory behaviour, RPeD1, in semi-intact preparations. Naïve snails exposed to CE prior to recording demonstrated both a significantly reduced spontaneous firing rate and fewer bouts of bursting activity compared with non-exposed snails. These data show that laboratory-reared Lymnaea that have never experienced a natural predator are still capable of detecting and responding to the presence of a historically sympatric predator. These data open a new avenue of research, which may allow a direct investigation from the behavioural to the neuronal level as to how an ecologically relevant stressful stimulus alters behaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael V Orr
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, T2N 4N1
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Ferrari MCO, Messier F, Chivers DP. Threat-sensitive learning of predators by larval mosquitoes Culex restuans. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2007. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-007-0535-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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17
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Ferrari MCO, Messier F, Chivers DP. First Documentation of Cultural Transmission of Predator Recognition by Larval Amphibians. Ethology 2007. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1439-0310.2007.01362.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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18
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Learned recognition of a novel odour by wild juvenile Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar, under fully natural conditions. Anim Behav 2007. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2006.09.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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19
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Learning, memory and predator avoidance by freshwater snails: effects of experience on predator recognition and defensive strategy. Anim Behav 2006. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2006.05.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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20
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Ferrari MC, Chivers DP. The role of latent inhibition in acquired predator recognition by fathead minnows. CAN J ZOOL 2006. [DOI: 10.1139/z06-027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The ability of prey animals to recognize and respond to potential predators has important survival consequences. In many predator–prey systems, prey need to learn which species are potential predators. Consequently, selection should favour efficient learning mechanisms. For aquatic organisms, a very effective way to learn to identify potential predators is by associating cues of injured conspecifics with cues of an unknown predator. To our knowledge, no studies of fishes have failed to show successful acquisition of predator recognition using this learning method. The goal of our study was to begin to address the limits of this learning paradigm. Specifically, we tested whether pre-exposure to a novel predator would prevent the associative learning from occurring. In the first treatment, we pre-exposed minnows to distilled water for 1 h on 5 consecutive days and then conditioned them with conspecific skin extract paired with charr odour. In the second treatment, minnows were pre-exposed to charr odour and conditioned with conspecific skin extract paired with charr odour. In the last treatment, minnows were pre-exposed to charr odour but “conditioned” with distilled water paired with charr odour. When tested for recognition of the charr odour alone, only the fish that were not pre-exposed to charr odour showed responses to the predators. We conclude that latent inhibition affects the efficiency of associative learning of the predator.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maud C.O. Ferrari
- Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan, 112 Science Place, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5E2, Canada
| | - Douglas P. Chivers
- Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan, 112 Science Place, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5E2, Canada
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21
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Dalesman S, Rundle SD, Coleman RA, Cotton PA. Cue association and antipredator behaviour in a pulmonate snail, Lymnaea stagnalis. Anim Behav 2006. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2005.05.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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22
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23
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Darwish TL, Mirza RS, Leduc AO, Brown GE. Acquired recognition of novel predator odour cocktails by juvenile glowlight tetras. Anim Behav 2005. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2004.09.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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24
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Larson JK, McCormick MI. The role of chemical alarm signals in facilitating learned recognition of novel chemical cues in a coral reef fish. Anim Behav 2005. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2004.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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25
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26
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Skalski GT. THE DIFFUSIVE SPREAD OF ALLELES IN HETEROGENEOUS POPULATIONS. Evolution 2004. [DOI: 10.1554/03-132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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27
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Quirt J, Lasenby D. Cannibalism and ontogenetic changes in the response of the freshwater shrimp Mysis relicta to chemical cues from conspecific predators. CAN J ZOOL 2002. [DOI: 10.1139/z02-084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Laboratory feeding experiments demonstrated that juvenile and immature mysids could be susceptible to cannibalism by adult mysids. Differences in the responses to chemical cues between juvenile, immature, and adult Mysis relicta were determined by noting the distributions of test animals after a 4-h test period in a Y-tube choice-test olfactometer. Both juvenile and immature mysids avoided water that had contained adult mysids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcel Dicke
- Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 8031, Wageningen, NL-6700 EH, The Netherlands; e-mail:
| | - Paul Grostal
- Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 8031, Wageningen, NL-6700 EH, The Netherlands; e-mail:
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Mirza RS, Chivers DP. Predator-recognition training enhances survival of brook trout: evidence from laboratory and field-enclosure studies. CAN J ZOOL 2000. [DOI: 10.1139/z00-164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 123] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
In this study we tested whether brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) can learn to recognise predators through releaser-induced recognition learning and whether this learning enhances survival of trout during encounters with a predator. In our initial experiment, we exposed hatchery-reared predator-naïve brook trout to chemical stimuli from predatory chain pickerel (Esox niger) paired with alarm signals released by damaged trout, disturbance signals, or distilled water. In subsequent tests 24 h later, when only pickerel odour was presented, trout conditioned with damage-released alarm signals exhibited antipredator behaviour (i.e., decreased movement and altered foraging patterns), in contrast to the other treatments, thereby demonstrating learned recognition of the predator. In our second experiment we showed that trout retained the ability to recognise the predator for at least 10 days. In the next series of experiments we explicitly tested whether training trout to recognise predators confers a survival benefit. During staged encounters with chain pickerel (in both the laboratory and the field), trained fish were better able to evade the predator than nontrained fish. Ours is the first study to demonstrate that fish trained to recognise predators gain a survival benefit during staged encounters with a predator.
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