Risk assessment in western mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis): do multiple cues have additive effects?

Keywords

Gambusia affinis, diet, hunger, size, predator avoidance, threat sensitivity, risk assessment, predator inspection

Abstract

The threat-sensitivity hypothesis predicts that prey individuals will increase antipredator behaviors as apparent predator risk increases. An implicit assumption of the threat-sensitivity hypothesis is that predator risk is additive. In other words, all characteristics of a predator that indicate risk should contribute in an additive way to determine the degree of risk-sensitive behavior. We tested this assumption in the laboratory by presenting live predators (green sunfish, Lepomis cyanellus) to groups of western mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis). We examined effects of predator diet, hunger level, and size on predator avoidance and inspection behavior of mosquitofish. Both predator diet and predator hunger level were significant and additive determinants of distance maintained from a predator, resulting in a graded response to combinations of these predator cues. In contrast, whereas predator diet was the most important determinant of general avoidance distances, predator hunger level was more important in determining mosquitofish vertical distribution and inspection behavior. Thus, the relationship between predator cue and the antipredator behavior that it elicits is dependent on which cues and behaviors are examined. Our data suggest that during risky behaviors, such as predator inspection, mosquitofish rely mainly on visual cues (behavior differences between hungry and satiated predators), whereas general avoidance behavior is determined by additive responses from visual and chemical cues.

Original Publication Citation

Smith, M.E., and M.C. Belk. 2001. Risk-assessment in western mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis): do multiple cues have additive effects? Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 51:101-107.

Document Type

Peer-Reviewed Article

Publication Date

2001-12

Permanent URL

http://hdl.lib.byu.edu/1877/8207

Publisher

Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology

Language

English

College

Life Sciences

Department

Biology

University Standing at Time of Publication

Full Professor

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