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Potdar S, Dinakar M, Westerman EL. Behavioural changes in aposematic Heliconius melpomene butterflies in response to their predatory bird calls. Behav Processes 2024; 220:105071. [PMID: 38908610 DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2024.105071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2024] [Revised: 06/16/2024] [Accepted: 06/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/24/2024]
Abstract
Prey-predator interactions have resulted in the evolution of many anti-predatory traits. One of them is the ability for prey to listen to predators and avoid them. Although prey anti-predatory behavioural responses to predator auditory cues are well described in a wide range of taxa, studies on whether butterflies change their behaviours in response to their predatory calls are lacking. Heliconius butterflies are unpalatable and form Müllerian mimicry rings as morphological defence strategies against their avian predators. Like many other butterflies in the Nymphalidae family, some Heliconius butterflies possess auditory organs, which are hypothesized to assist with predator detection. Here we test whether Heliconius melpomene change their behaviour in response to their predatory bird calls by observing the behaviour of male and female H. m. plessini exposed to calls of Heliconius avian predators: rufous-tailed jacamar, migratory Eastern kingbird, and resident tropical kingbird. We also exposed them to the calls of the toco toucan, a frugivorous bird as a control bird call, and an amplified greenhouse background noise as a noise control. We found that individuals changed their behaviour in response to jacamar calls only. Males increased their walking and fluttering behaviour, while females did not change their behaviour during the playback of the jacamar call. Intersexual behaviours like courtship, copulation, and abdomen lifting did not change in response to bird calls. Our findings suggest that despite having primary predatory defences like toxicity and being in a mimicry ring, H. m. plessini butterflies changed their behaviour in response to predator calls. Furthermore, this response was predator specific, as H. m. plesseni did not respond to either the Eastern kingbird or the tropical kingbird calls. This suggests that Heliconius butterflies may be able to differentiate predatory calls, and potentially the birds associated with those calls.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sushant Potdar
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR, USA.
| | | | - Erica L Westerman
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR, USA
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Zeller K, Ballesta S, Meunier H, Duboscq J, Morino L, Rimele A, Bonnet X, Maille A, Dezecache G, Garcia C. Spot the odd one out: do snake pictures capture macaques' attention more than other predators? Anim Cogn 2023; 26:1945-1958. [PMID: 37855842 DOI: 10.1007/s10071-023-01831-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2023] [Revised: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 10/05/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023]
Abstract
Detecting and identifying predators quickly is key to survival. According to the Snake Detection Theory (SDT), snakes have been a substantive threat to primates for millions of years, so that dedicated visual skills were tuned to detect snakes in early primates. Past experiments confronted the SDT by measuring how fast primate subjects detected snake pictures among non-dangerous distractors (e.g., flowers), but did not include pictures of primates' other predators, such as carnivorans, raptors, and crocodilians. Here, we examined the detection abilities of N = 19 Tonkean macaques (Macaca tonkeana) and N = 6 rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) to spot different predators. By implementing an oddity task protocol, we recorded success rates and reaction times to locate a deviant picture among four pictures over more than 400,000 test trials. Pictures depicted a predator, a non-predator animal, or a simple geometric shape. The first task consisted of detecting a deviant picture among identical distractor pictures (discrimination) and the second task was designed to evaluate detection abilities of a deviant picture among different distractor pictures (categorization). The macaques detected pictures of geometric shapes better and faster than pictures of animals, and were better and faster at discriminating than categorizing. The macaques did not detect snakes better or faster than other animal categories. Overall, these results suggest that pictures of snakes do not capture visual attention more than other predators, questioning previous findings in favor of the SDT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karl Zeller
- Unité Eco-Anthropologie (EA), UMR 7206, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, CNRS, Université Paris Cité, Musée de l'Homme 17 Place du Trocadéro, 75016, Paris, France.
| | - Sébastien Ballesta
- Laboratoire de Neurosciences Cognitives et Adaptatives, UMR 7364, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
- Centre de Primatologie de l'Université de Strasbourg, Silabe, Niederhausbergen, France
| | - Hélène Meunier
- Laboratoire de Neurosciences Cognitives et Adaptatives, UMR 7364, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
- Centre de Primatologie de l'Université de Strasbourg, Silabe, Niederhausbergen, France
| | - Julie Duboscq
- Unité Eco-Anthropologie (EA), UMR 7206, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, CNRS, Université Paris Cité, Musée de l'Homme 17 Place du Trocadéro, 75016, Paris, France
| | - Luca Morino
- Ménagerie du Jardin Des Plantes, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, 57 rue Cuvier, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Adam Rimele
- Centre de Primatologie de l'Université de Strasbourg, Silabe, Niederhausbergen, France
| | - Xavier Bonnet
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé, UMR 7372, CNRS ULR, Villiers-en-Bois, France
| | - Audrey Maille
- Unité Eco-Anthropologie (EA), UMR 7206, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, CNRS, Université Paris Cité, Musée de l'Homme 17 Place du Trocadéro, 75016, Paris, France
- DGD Musées, Jardins Botaniques et Zoologiques, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, 57 rue Cuvier, 75005, Paris, France
| | | | - Cécile Garcia
- Unité Eco-Anthropologie (EA), UMR 7206, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, CNRS, Université Paris Cité, Musée de l'Homme 17 Place du Trocadéro, 75016, Paris, France
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Fialas PC, Gilmour LRV, Vickress S, Underwood E, Williams CA, Miller H, Lintott PR. Sexual segregation occurs in bats within fragmented remnant woodlands in an agricultural landscape. Ecol Evol 2022; 12:e9350. [PMID: 36203639 PMCID: PMC9526024 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.9350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2022] [Revised: 08/30/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Species-specific responses to landscape configuration and landscape composition have been studied extensively. However, little work has been done to compare intraspecific differences in habitat preferences. Bats have potential as good bioindicator taxa in woodland habitats. Therefore, studying sex differences in responses to woodland and the wider landscape can allow us to gain insight into the relative importance of these habitats for both bats and other taxa. In this study, we aimed to test the predictions that (i) habitat type and connectivity will influence the probability of recording female bats in woodlands and (ii) sex differences in response to habitat type and connectivity will be species-specific. Bat capture data was collected in 206 woodlands over 3 years in England. The probability of detecting females relative to males was modeled in response to a range of woodland characteristics and landscape metrics for six bat species. We recorded sex differences in responses to landscape features in three species. We found a higher probability of capturing female Myotis nattereri in woodlands that were surrounded by a higher proportion of improved grasslands, whereas female Myotis mystacinus were less likely to be recorded in woodlands surrounded by semi-natural vegetation. Female Plecotus auritus were more likely to be recorded in isolated woodlands with less connectivity to other woodlands and where agriculture dominated the surrounding landscape. Our findings indicate that sexual segregation occurs across several UK bat species in response to landscape connectivity and composition. Sexual segregation in response to landscape characteristics in bats should therefore be an important consideration in the management of fragmented agricultural landscapes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Penelope C. Fialas
- School of Applied SciencesUniversity of the West of EnglandBristolUK
- College of Life and Environmental SciencesUniversity of ExeterExeterUK
| | - Lia R. V. Gilmour
- School of Applied SciencesUniversity of the West of EnglandBristolUK
- Bat Conservation TrustLondonUK
| | - Sophie Vickress
- School of Applied SciencesUniversity of the West of EnglandBristolUK
| | - Emma Underwood
- School of Applied SciencesUniversity of the West of EnglandBristolUK
- Kingston University LondonKingston upon ThamesUK
| | | | - Helen Miller
- Botanic Gardens Conservation InternationalRichmondUK
| | - Paul R. Lintott
- School of Applied SciencesUniversity of the West of EnglandBristolUK
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Cox CL, Chung AK, Blackwell C, Davis MM, Gulsby M, Islam H, Miller N, Lambert C, Lewis O, Rector IV, Walsh M, Yamamoto AD, Davis Rabosky AR. Tactile stimuli induce deimatic antipredator displays in ringneck snakes. Ethology 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/eth.13152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Christian L. Cox
- Department of Biological Sciences Florida International University Miami FL USA
- Mountain Lake Biological Station University of Virginia Charlottesville VA USA
| | - Albert K. Chung
- Mountain Lake Biological Station University of Virginia Charlottesville VA USA
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology University of California Los Angeles Los Angeles CA USA
| | | | - Maura M. Davis
- Mountain Lake Biological Station University of Virginia Charlottesville VA USA
| | - Miranda Gulsby
- Mountain Lake Biological Station University of Virginia Charlottesville VA USA
- Department of Biology Kennesaw State University Kennesaw GA USA
| | - Hasib Islam
- Mountain Lake Biological Station University of Virginia Charlottesville VA USA
| | - Nathan Miller
- Mountain Lake Biological Station University of Virginia Charlottesville VA USA
- James Madison University Harrisonburg VA USA
| | - Carson Lambert
- Mountain Lake Biological Station University of Virginia Charlottesville VA USA
| | - Olivia Lewis
- Mountain Lake Biological Station University of Virginia Charlottesville VA USA
| | - Ian V. Rector
- Mountain Lake Biological Station University of Virginia Charlottesville VA USA
| | - Marleigh Walsh
- Mountain Lake Biological Station University of Virginia Charlottesville VA USA
| | - Alannah D. Yamamoto
- Mountain Lake Biological Station University of Virginia Charlottesville VA USA
- University of Maryland College Park MD USA
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Cornelis J, Nordberg EJ, Schwarzkopf L. Antipredator behaviour of invasive geckos in response to chemical cues from snakes. Ethology 2018. [DOI: 10.1111/eth.12826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jari Cornelis
- College of Science and Engineering James Cook University Townsville Queensland Australia
| | - Eric J. Nordberg
- College of Science and Engineering James Cook University Townsville Queensland Australia
| | - Lin Schwarzkopf
- College of Science and Engineering James Cook University Townsville Queensland Australia
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Oku K, Poelman EH, de Jong PW, Dicke M. Female response to predation risk alters conspecific male behaviour during pre-copulatory mate guarding. Ethology 2017. [DOI: 10.1111/eth.12710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Keiko Oku
- Laboratory of Entomology; Wageningen University; Wageningen The Netherlands
- National Agriculture and Food Research Organization, Agricultural Research Center; Tsukuba Ibaraki Japan
| | - Erik H. Poelman
- Laboratory of Entomology; Wageningen University; Wageningen The Netherlands
| | - Peter W. de Jong
- Laboratory of Entomology; Wageningen University; Wageningen The Netherlands
| | - Marcel Dicke
- Laboratory of Entomology; Wageningen University; Wageningen The Netherlands
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Rocha R, Ferreira DF, López-Baucells A, Farneda FZ, Carreiras JMB, Palmeirim JM, Meyer CFJ. Does sex matter? Gender-specific responses to forest fragmentation in Neotropical bats. Biotropica 2017. [DOI: 10.1111/btp.12474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ricardo Rocha
- Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes; Faculty of Sciences; University of Lisbon; 1749-016 Lisbon Portugal
- Biological Dynamics of Forest Fragments Project; National Institute for Amazonian Research and Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute; 69011-970 Manaus Brazil
- Metapopulation Research Centre; Faculty of Biosciences; University of Helsinki; FI-00014 Helsinki Finland
| | - Diogo F. Ferreira
- Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes; Faculty of Sciences; University of Lisbon; 1749-016 Lisbon Portugal
- Biological Dynamics of Forest Fragments Project; National Institute for Amazonian Research and Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute; 69011-970 Manaus Brazil
| | - Adrià López-Baucells
- Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes; Faculty of Sciences; University of Lisbon; 1749-016 Lisbon Portugal
- Biological Dynamics of Forest Fragments Project; National Institute for Amazonian Research and Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute; 69011-970 Manaus Brazil
- Museum of Natural Sciences of Granollers; Granollers Catalonia 08402 Spain
- Ecosystems and Environment Research Centre (EERC); School of Environment and Life Sciences; University of Salford; M5 4WT Salford UK
| | - Fábio Z. Farneda
- Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes; Faculty of Sciences; University of Lisbon; 1749-016 Lisbon Portugal
- Biological Dynamics of Forest Fragments Project; National Institute for Amazonian Research and Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute; 69011-970 Manaus Brazil
- Department of Ecology/PPGE; Federal University of Rio de Janeiro; Rio de Janeiro 21941-902 Brazil
| | - João M. B. Carreiras
- National Centre for Earth Observation (NCEO); University of Sheffield; S3 7RH Sheffield UK
| | - Jorge M. Palmeirim
- Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes; Faculty of Sciences; University of Lisbon; 1749-016 Lisbon Portugal
- Biological Dynamics of Forest Fragments Project; National Institute for Amazonian Research and Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute; 69011-970 Manaus Brazil
| | - Christoph F. J. Meyer
- Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes; Faculty of Sciences; University of Lisbon; 1749-016 Lisbon Portugal
- Biological Dynamics of Forest Fragments Project; National Institute for Amazonian Research and Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute; 69011-970 Manaus Brazil
- Ecosystems and Environment Research Centre (EERC); School of Environment and Life Sciences; University of Salford; M5 4WT Salford UK
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