1
|
Peterson AN, McHenry MJ. The persistent-predation strategy of the red lionfish ( Pterois volitans). Proc Biol Sci 2022; 289:20221085. [PMID: 35919997 PMCID: PMC9346346 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2022.1085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2022] [Accepted: 07/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The pursuit of prey is vital to the biology of a predator and many aspects of predatory behaviour are well-studied. However, it is unclear how a pursuit can be effective when the prey is faster than a non-cryptic predator. Using kinematic measurements, we considered the strategy of red lionfish (Pterois volitans) as they pursued a faster prey fish (Chromis viridis) under laboratory conditions. Despite swimming about half as fast as C. viridis, lionfish succeeded in capturing prey in 61% of our experiments. This successful pursuit behaviour was defined by three critical characteristics. First, lionfish targeted C. viridis with pure pursuit by adjusting their heading towards the prey's position and not the anticipated point of interception. Second, lionfish pursued prey with uninterrupted motion. By contrast, C. viridis moved intermittently with variation in speed that included slow swimming. Such periods allowed lionfish to close the distance to a prey and initiate a suction-feeding strike at a relatively close distance (less than 9 cm). Finally, lionfish exhibited a high rate of strike success, capturing prey in 74% of all strikes. These characteristics comprise a behaviour that we call the 'persistent-predation strategy', which may be exhibited by a diversity of predators with relatively slow locomotion.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ashley N. Peterson
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Irvine 321 Steinhaus Hall, Irvine, CA 92697 USA
| | - Matthew J. McHenry
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Irvine 321 Steinhaus Hall, Irvine, CA 92697 USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Mihalitsis M, Hemingson CR, Goatley CHR, Bellwood DR. The role of fishes as food: A functional perspective on predator–prey interactions. Funct Ecol 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.13779] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Michalis Mihalitsis
- Research Hub for Coral Reef Ecosystem Functions James Cook University Townsville QLD Australia
- College of Science and Engineering James Cook University Townsville QLD Australia
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies James Cook University Townsville QLD Australia
| | - Christopher R. Hemingson
- Research Hub for Coral Reef Ecosystem Functions James Cook University Townsville QLD Australia
- College of Science and Engineering James Cook University Townsville QLD Australia
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies James Cook University Townsville QLD Australia
| | - Christopher H. R. Goatley
- Function, Evolution and Anatomy Research (FEAR) Lab and Palaeoscience Research Centre School of Environmental and Rural Science University of New England Armidale Australia
- Australian Museum Research InstituteAustralian Museum Sydney NSW Australia
| | - David R. Bellwood
- Research Hub for Coral Reef Ecosystem Functions James Cook University Townsville QLD Australia
- College of Science and Engineering James Cook University Townsville QLD Australia
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies James Cook University Townsville QLD Australia
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Maile AJ, May ZA, DeArmon ES, Martin RP, Davis MP. Marine Habitat Transitions and Body-Shape Evolution in Lizardfishes and Their Allies (Aulopiformes). COPEIA 2020. [DOI: 10.1643/cg-19-300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Alex J. Maile
- Department of Biological Sciences, 720 Fourth Avenue South, St. Cloud State University, St. Cloud, Minnesota 56301; (AJM) . Send reprint requests to AJM
| | - Zachary A. May
- Department of Biological Sciences, 720 Fourth Avenue South, St. Cloud State University, St. Cloud, Minnesota 56301; (AJM) . Send reprint requests to AJM
| | - Emily S. DeArmon
- Department of Biological Sciences, 720 Fourth Avenue South, St. Cloud State University, St. Cloud, Minnesota 56301; (AJM) . Send reprint requests to AJM
| | - Rene P. Martin
- Biodiversity Institute, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas 66045
| | - Matthew P. Davis
- Department of Biological Sciences, 720 Fourth Avenue South, St. Cloud State University, St. Cloud, Minnesota 56301; (AJM) . Send reprint requests to AJM
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
McCormick MI, Chivers DP, Ferrari MCO, Blandford MI, Nanninga GB, Richardson C, Fakan EP, Vamvounis G, Gulizia AM, Allan BJM. Microplastic exposure interacts with habitat degradation to affect behaviour and survival of juvenile fish in the field. Proc Biol Sci 2020; 287:20201947. [PMID: 33109008 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2020.1947] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Coral reefs are degrading globally due to increased environmental stressors including warming and elevated levels of pollutants. These stressors affect not only habitat-forming organisms, such as corals, but they may also directly affect the organisms that inhabit these ecosystems. Here, we explore how the dual threat of habitat degradation and microplastic exposure may affect the behaviour and survival of coral reef fish in the field. Fish were caught prior to settlement and pulse-fed polystyrene microplastics six times over 4 days, then placed in the field on live or dead-degraded coral patches. Exposure to microplastics or dead coral led fish to be bolder, more active and stray further from shelter compared to control fish. Effect sizes indicated that plastic exposure had a greater effect on behaviour than degraded habitat, and we found no evidence of synergistic effects. This pattern was also displayed in their survival in the field. Our results highlight that attaining low concentrations of microplastic in the environment will be a useful management strategy, since minimizing microplastic intake by fishes may work concurrently with reef restoration strategies to enhance the resilience of coral reef populations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mark I McCormick
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
| | - Douglas P Chivers
- Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon SK S7N 5E2, Canada
| | - Maud C O Ferrari
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, WCVM, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon SK S7 W 5B4, Canada
| | - Makeely I Blandford
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
| | - Gerrit B Nanninga
- School of Life Sciences, University of Essex, Colchester CO4 3SQ, UK.,Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EJ, UK
| | - Celia Richardson
- Department of Marine Science, University of Otago, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand
| | - Eric P Fakan
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
| | - George Vamvounis
- College of Sciences and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
| | - Alexandra M Gulizia
- College of Sciences and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
| | - Bridie J M Allan
- Department of Marine Science, University of Otago, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Chivers DP, McCormick MI, Fakan EP, Barry RP, Edmiston JW, Ferrari MCO. Coral degradation alters predator odour signatures and influences prey learning and survival. Proc Biol Sci 2019; 286:20190562. [PMID: 31138070 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2019.0562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Habitat degradation is a key factor leading to the global loss of biodiversity. This problem is particularly acute in coral reef ecosystems. We investigated whether recognition of predator odours by damselfish was influenced by coral degradation and whether these changes altered survival in the wild. We taught whitespot damselfish to recognize the odour of a predator in the presence of live/healthy coral or dead/degraded coral. Fish were tested for a response to predator odours in environments that matched their conditioning environment or in environments that were mismatched. Next, we taught blue damselfish to recognize the odour of three common reef predators in live and degraded coral environments and then stocked them onto live or degraded patch reefs, where we monitored their subsequent response to predator odour along with their survival. Damselfish learned to recognize predator odours in both coral environments, but the intensity of their antipredator response was much greater when the conditioning and test environments matched. Fish released on degraded coral had about 50% higher survival if they had been trained in the presence of degraded coral rather than live coral. Altering the intensity of antipredator responses could have rather profound consequences on population growth.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- D P Chivers
- 1 Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan , Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada S7N 5E2
| | - M I McCormick
- 2 ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, and College of Marine & Environmental Sciences, James Cook University , Townsville, Queensland 4811 , Australia
| | - E P Fakan
- 2 ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, and College of Marine & Environmental Sciences, James Cook University , Townsville, Queensland 4811 , Australia
| | - R P Barry
- 2 ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, and College of Marine & Environmental Sciences, James Cook University , Townsville, Queensland 4811 , Australia
| | - J W Edmiston
- 2 ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, and College of Marine & Environmental Sciences, James Cook University , Townsville, Queensland 4811 , Australia
| | - M C O Ferrari
- 3 Department of Biomedical Sciences, WCVM, University of Saskatchewan , Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada S7W 5B4
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Juvenile coral reef fish alter escape responses when exposed to changes in background and acute risk levels. Anim Behav 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2017.09.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
|
7
|
A large predatory reef fish species moderates feeding and activity patterns in response to seasonal and latitudinal temperature variation. Sci Rep 2017; 7:12966. [PMID: 29021605 PMCID: PMC5636919 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-13277-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2017] [Accepted: 09/19/2017] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Climate-driven increases in ocean temperatures are expected to affect the metabolic requirements of marine species substantially. To mitigate the impacts of increasing temperatures in the short-term, it may be necessary for ectothermic organisms to alter their foraging behaviour and activity. Herein, we investigate seasonal variation in foraging behaviour and activity of latitudinally distinct populations of a large coral reef predator, the common coral trout, Plectropomus leopardus, from the Great Barrier Reef, Australia. P. leopardus exhibited increased foraging frequency in summer versus winter time, irrespective of latitude, however, foraging frequency substantially declined at water temperatures >30 °C. Foraging frequency also decreased with body size but there was no interaction with temperature. Activity patterns were directly correlated with water temperature; during summer, the low-latitude population of P. leopardus spent up to 62% of their time inactive, compared with 43% for the high-latitude population. The impact of water temperature on activity patterns was greatest for larger individuals. These results show that P. leopardus moderate their foraging behaviour and activity according to changes in ambient temperatures. It seems likely that increasing ocean temperatures may impose significant constraints on the capacity of large-bodied fishes to obtain sufficient prey resources while simultaneously conserving energy.
Collapse
|
8
|
French B, Platell ME, Clarke KR, Potter IC. Optimization of foraging and diet by the piscivorous Othos dentex (Serranidae). JOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY 2017; 90:1823-1841. [PMID: 28220488 DOI: 10.1111/jfb.13269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2016] [Accepted: 01/04/2017] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to determine the dietary characteristics and mouth morphology of Othos dentex and to use these data, together with in situ observations of feeding behaviour, to elucidate how foraging and diet are optimized by this piscivorous serranid. Seasonal spear and line fishing over reefs in south-western Australia yielded 426 O. dentex (total length, LT , 183-605 mm), among which the stomachs of 95 contained food. The food in the stomachs of 76 fish was sufficiently undigested to be seen to contain, almost invariably, a single fish prey, which was typically identifiable to family and often to species. The prey of O. dentex, which were measured (LT ), represented 10 families, of which the Labridae and Pempheridae constituted nearly two-thirds of the prey volume. Two-way crossed analysis of similarities of volumetric data for stomach contents showed that the dietary compositions of the different length classes of O. dentex in the various seasons were significantly related to length class of prey, but not to prey family, length class within the various prey families or season. Furthermore, an inverse (Q-mode) analysis, including one-way analysis of similarities, showed that the patterns in the prey consumed by the different length classes of O. dentex in the various seasons were related more strongly to length class than prey family. The former trend is exemplified in a shade plot, by a marked diagonality of the length classes of prey with increasing predator size. The ingestion of typically a single teleost prey, whose body size increases as that of O. dentex increases, reduces the frequency required for seeking prey, thus saving energy and reducing the potential for intraspecific competition for food. The ability of O. dentex to ingest large prey is facilitated by its possession of a very large gape, prominent recurved teeth, dorsal and independently-moveable eyes, cryptic colouration and effective ambush behaviour. Othos dentex has thus evolved very cost-effective mechanisms for optimizing its foraging and diet.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- B French
- Centre for Fish and Fisheries Research, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA, 6150, Australia
| | - M E Platell
- School of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Newcastle, P. O. Box 127, Ourimbah, NSW, 2258, Australia
| | - K R Clarke
- Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Prospect Place, West Hoe, Plymouth, PL1 3DH, U.K
| | - I C Potter
- Centre for Fish and Fisheries Research, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA, 6150, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Lönnstedt OM, McCormick MI. Damsel in distress: captured damselfish prey emit chemical cues that attract secondary predators and improve escape chances. Proc Biol Sci 2016; 282:20152038. [PMID: 26511043 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2015.2038] [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] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
In aquatic environments, many prey animals possess damage-released chemical alarm cues that elicit antipredator behaviours in responsive con- and heterospecifics. Despite considerable study, the selective advantage of alarm cues remains unclear. In an attempt to investigate one of the more promising hypotheses concerning the evolution of alarm cues, we examined whether the cue functions in a fashion analogous to the distress vocalizations emitted by many terrestrial animals. Our results suggest that chemical alarm cues in damselfish (Pomacentridae) may have evolved to benefit the cue sender by attracting secondary predators who disrupt the predation event, allowing the prey a greater chance to escape. The coral reef piscivore, the dusky dottyback (Pseudochromis fuscus), chemically eavesdrops on predation events and uses chemical alarm cues from fish prey (lemon damselfish; Pomacentrus moluccensis) in an attempt to find and steal prey from primary predators. Field studies showed that Ps. fuscus aggregate at sites where prey alarm cue has been experimentally released. Furthermore, secondary predators attempted to steal captured prey of primary predators in laboratory trials and enhanced prey escape chances by 35-40%. These results are the first, to the best of our knowledge, to demonstrate a mechanism by which marine fish may benefit from the production and release of alarm cues, and highlight the complex and important role that semiochemicals play in marine predator-prey interactions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Oona M Lönnstedt
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies and College of Marine and Environmental Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia
| | - Mark I McCormick
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies and College of Marine and Environmental Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Goiran C, Shine R. Parental defence on the reef: antipredator tactics of coral-reef fishes against egg-eating seasnakes. Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2014. [DOI: 10.1111/bij.12422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Claire Goiran
- Labex Corail & Université de la Nouvelle-Calédonie; BP R4 98851 Nouméa cedex New Caledonia
| | - Richard Shine
- School of Biological Sciences A08; University of Sydney; Sydney NSW 2006 Australia
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Bosiger YJ, McCormick MI. Temporal links in daily activity patterns between coral reef predators and their prey. PLoS One 2014; 9:e111723. [PMID: 25354096 PMCID: PMC4213059 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0111723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2014] [Accepted: 10/07/2014] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Few studies have documented the activity patterns of both predators and their common prey over 24 h diel cycles. This study documents the temporal periodicity of two common resident predators of juvenile reef fishes, Cephalopholis cyanostigma (rockcod) and Pseudochromis fuscus (dottyback) and compares these to the activity and foraging pattern of a common prey species, juvenile Pomacentrus moluccensis (lemon damselfish). Detailed observations of activity in the field and using 24 h infrared video in the laboratory revealed that the two predators had very different activity patterns. C. cyanostigma was active over the whole 24 h period, with a peak in feeding strikes at dusk and increased activity at both dawn and dusk, while P. fuscus was not active at night and had its highest strike rates at midday. The activity and foraging pattern of P. moluccensis directly opposes that of C. cyanostigma with individuals reducing strike rate and intraspecific aggression at both dawn and dusk, and reducing distance from shelter and boldness at dusk only. Juveniles examined were just outside the size-selection window of P. fuscus. We suggest that the relatively predictable diel behaviour of coral reef predators results from physiological factors such as visual sensory abilities, circadian rhythmicity, variation in hunting profitability, and predation risk at different times of the day. Our study suggests that the diel periodicity of P. moluccensis behaviour may represent a response to increased predation risk at times when both the ability to efficiently capture food and visually detect predators is reduced.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yoland J. Bosiger
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, and School of Marine and Tropical Biology, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Mark I. McCormick
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, and School of Marine and Tropical Biology, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Ashworth EC, Depczynski M, Holmes TH, Wilson SK. Quantitative diet analysis of four mesopredators from a coral reef. JOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY 2014; 84:1031-1045. [PMID: 24641257 DOI: 10.1111/jfb.12343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2013] [Accepted: 01/14/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
The diets of four common mesopredator fishes were examined in the back-reef habitat of a subtropical fringing reef system during the summer months. Quantitative gut content analyses revealed that crustaceans, represented >60% of ingested prey (% mass) by the latticed sand-perch Parapercis clathrata, brown dottyback Pseudochromis fuscus and half-moon grouper Epinephelus rivulatus. Dietary analyses also provided insights into ontogenetic shifts. Juvenile P. fuscus ingested large numbers of crustaceans (amphipods and isopods); these small prey were rarely found in larger individuals (<1% of ingested mass). Fishes also made an important contribution to the diets of all three species representing 10-30% of ingested mass. Conversely, the sand lizardfish Synodus dermatogenys fed exclusively on fishes including clupeids, gobies and labrids. Differences in the gut contents of the four species recorded were not apparent using stable isotope analysis of muscle tissues. The similarity of δ(13) C values in muscle tissues suggested that carbon within prey was derived from primary producers, with comparable carbon isotope signatures to corals and macroalgae, whilst similarities in δ(15) N values indicated that all four species belonged to the same trophic level. Thus, interspecific differences between mesopredator diets were undetectable when using stable isotope analysis which suggests that detailed elucidation of trophic pathways requires gut content analyses.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- E C Ashworth
- Centre for Fish, Fisheries and Aquatic Ecosystem Research, School of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology Murdoch University, 90 South St., Murdoch, WA 6150, Australia; Marine Science Program, Department of Parks and Wildlife, 17 Dick Perry Ave, Kensington, WA 6151, Australia
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
13
|
Lönnstedt OM, McCormick MI, Chivers DP, Ferrari MCO. Habitat degradation is threatening reef replenishment by making fish fearless. J Anim Ecol 2014; 83:1178-85. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.12209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2013] [Accepted: 01/24/2014] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Oona M. Lönnstedt
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, and School of Marine and Tropical Biology; James Cook University; Townsville Qld 4811 Australia
| | - Mark I. McCormick
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, and School of Marine and Tropical Biology; James Cook University; Townsville Qld 4811 Australia
| | - Douglas P. Chivers
- Department of Biology; University of Saskatchewan; Saskatoon SK S7N 5E2 Canada
| | - Maud C. O. Ferrari
- Department of Biomedical Sciences; WCVM; University of Saskatchewan; Saskatoon SK S7N 5B4 Canada
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Wisenden BD, Chivers DP, Smith RJ. Early warning in the predation sequence: A disturbance pheromone in Iowa darters (Etheostoma exile). J Chem Ecol 2013; 21:1469-80. [PMID: 24233677 DOI: 10.1007/bf02035146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/1995] [Accepted: 05/17/1995] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
The probability of prey avoiding a predator's attack should increase if the predator's presence is detected at an early stage in the predation sequence. In this study, we tested whether threatened Iowa darters (Etheostoma exile) release disturbance pheromones that warn conspecifics of the presence of predation threat. Pairs of aquaria were visually isolated from one another, but connected chemically by water circulating between them. Darters in one aquarium were observed before and after darters in the other aquarium were chased with a model predator. In control tests, the model was moved in the same manner but there were no darters in the upstream tank. Darters receiving water from threatened fish increased vigilance behavior and decreased movement. Vigilant fish raised their head above the substratum, propping themselves up on their pectoral fins and/or arching their neck dorsally, pointing the snout upward. Exposure to water from disturbed darters suppressed exploratory behavior and resulted in movement by short rapid hops that ended abruptly in a rigid, alert posture. This study suggests that Iowa darters release a disturbance pheromone that can provide conspecifics with an early warning of predation risk.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- B D Wisenden
- Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan, 112 Science Place, SK, S7N 5E2, Saskatoon, Canada
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
15
|
Elevated CO2 affects predator-prey interactions through altered performance. PLoS One 2013; 8:e58520. [PMID: 23484032 PMCID: PMC3590170 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0058520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2012] [Accepted: 02/07/2013] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent research has shown that exposure to elevated carbon dioxide (CO2) affects how fishes perceive their environment, affecting behavioral and cognitive processes leading to increased prey mortality. However, it is unclear if increased mortality results from changes in the dynamics of predator-prey interactions or due to prey increasing activity levels. Here we demonstrate that ocean pCO2 projected to occur by 2100 significantly effects the interactions of a predator-prey pair of common reef fish: the planktivorous damselfish Pomacentrus amboinensis and the piscivorous dottyback Pseudochromis fuscus. Prey exposed to elevated CO2 (880 µatm) or a present-day control (440 µatm) interacted with similarly exposed predators in a cross-factored design. Predators had the lowest capture success when exposed to elevated CO2 and interacting with prey exposed to present-day CO2. Prey exposed to elevated CO2 had reduced escape distances and longer reaction distances compared to prey exposed to present-day CO2 conditions, but this was dependent on whether the prey was paired with a CO2 exposed predator or not. This suggests that the dynamics of predator-prey interactions under future CO2 environments will depend on the extent to which the interacting species are affected and can adapt to the adverse effects of elevated CO2.
Collapse
|
16
|
Stier AC, Geange SW, Bolker BM. Predator density and competition modify the benefits of group formation in a shoaling reef fish. OIKOS 2012. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0706.2012.20726.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
|
17
|
SINGH ABHINAV, WANG HAO, MORRISON WENDY, WEISS HOWARD. MODELING FISH BIOMASS STRUCTURE AT NEAR PRISTINE CORAL REEFS AND DEGRADATION BY FISHING. J BIOL SYST 2012. [DOI: 10.1142/s0218339011500318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Inverted biomass pyramids (IBPs) seem to be extremely rare in natural communities. Until recently, the only examples have been in freshwater and marine planktonic communities. In 2002 and 2008, investigators documented inverted biomass pyramids for nearly pristine coral reef ecosystems within the NW Hawaiian islands and the Line Islands, where apex predator abundance comprises up to 85% of the fish biomass. Large predator:prey biomass ratio seems to be a signature of nearly pristine coral reefs. While the mechanism responsible for the IBP for homogeneously mixed planktonic communities seems to be well understood, this mechanism is not strictly applicable to nearly pristine coral reefs where much of the prey use coral as refuge and are inaccessible to the predators. We construct a mathematical model with an explicit refuge to illustrate a new biologically plausible mechanism that can explain stable IBPs in nearly pristine coral reefs. New modeling components include a refuge of explicit size, a refuge size dependent functional response, and refuge size dependent prey growth rate. Utilizing realistic life history parameters of coral reef fishes, our model exhibits a stable inverted biomass pyramid. We prove that all fishing decreases the biomass ratio and sufficiently strong fishing transforms the inverted biomass pyramid to be bottom heavy. Finally we use our model to test the conjecture that pristine coral reefs will rebound faster from environmental shocks and find that it is not always true.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- ABHINAV SINGH
- Ear Institute, University College London, 332 Grays Inn Road, London WC1X 8EE, UK
| | - HAO WANG
- Department of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences, University of Alberta, 539 Central Academic Building, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2G1, Canada
| | - WENDY MORRISON
- School of Biology, Georgia Institute of Technology, 310 Ferst Drive, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
| | - HOWARD WEISS
- School of Mathematics, Georgia Institute of Technology, 686 Cherry Street, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Lonnstedt OM, McCormick MI, Chivers DP. Well-informed foraging: damage-released chemical cues of injured prey signal quality and size to predators. Oecologia 2011; 168:651-8. [PMID: 21947496 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-011-2116-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2010] [Accepted: 08/26/2011] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
Predators use a variety of information sources to locate potential prey, and likewise prey animals use numerous sources of information to detect and avoid becoming the meal of a potential predator. In freshwater environments, chemosensory cues often play a crucial role in such predator/prey interactions. The importance of chemosensory information to teleost fish in marine environments is not well understood. Here, we tested whether coral reef fish predators are attracted to damage-released chemical cues from already wounded prey in order to find patches of prey and minimize their own costs of obtaining food. Furthermore, we tested if these chemical cues would convey information about status of the prey. Using y-maze experiments, we found that predatory dottybacks, Pseudochromis fuscus, were more attracted to skin extracts of damselfish, Pomacentrus amboinensis, prey that were in good condition compared to prey in poor body condition. Moreover, in both the laboratory and field, we found that predators could differentiate between skin extracts from prey based on prey size, showing a greater attraction to extracts made from prey that were the appropriate size to consume. This suggests that predators are not attracted to any general substance released from an injured prey fish instead being capable of detecting and distinguishing relatively small differences in the chemical composition of the skin of their prey. These results have implications for understanding predator foraging strategies and highlights that chemical cues play a complex role in predator-prey interactions in marine fish.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Oona M Lonnstedt
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, School of Marine and Tropical Biology, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia.
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
19
|
Fishelson L, Golani D, Russell B, Galil B, Goren M. Comparative morphology and cytology of the alimentary tract in lizardfishes (Teleostei, Aulopiformes, Synodontidae). ACTA ZOOL-STOCKHOLM 2011. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1463-6395.2011.00504.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
|
20
|
White JW, Samhouri JF, Stier AC, Wormald CL, Hamilton SL, Sandin SA. Synthesizing mechanisms of density dependence in reef fishes: behavior, habitat configuration, and observational scale. Ecology 2010; 91:1949-61. [PMID: 20715614 DOI: 10.1890/09-0298.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Coral and rocky reef fish populations are widely used as model systems for the experimental exploration of density-dependent vital rates, but patterns of density-dependent mortality in these systems are not yet fully understood. In particular, the paradigm for strong, directly density-dependent (DDD) postsettlement mortality stands in contrast to recent evidence for inversely density-dependent (IDD) mortality. We review the processes responsible for DDD and IDD per capita mortality in reef fishes, noting that the pattern observed depends on predator and prey behavior, the spatial configuration of the reef habitat, and the spatial and temporal scales of observation. Specifically, predators tend to produce DDD prey mortality at their characteristic spatial scale of foraging, but prey mortality is IDD at smaller spatial scales due to attack-abatement effects (e.g., risk dilution). As a result, DDD mortality may be more common than IDD mortality on patch reefs, which tend to constrain predator foraging to the same scale as prey aggregation, eliminating attack-abatement effects. Additionally, adjacent groups of prey on continuous reefs may share a subset of refuges, increasing per capita refuge availability and relaxing DDD mortality relative to prey on patch reefs, where the patch edge could prevent such refuge sharing. These hypotheses lead to a synthetic framework to predict expected mortality patterns for a variety of scenarios. For nonsocial, nonaggregating species and species that aggregate in order to take advantage of spatially clumped refuges, IDD mortality is possible but likely superseded by DDD refuge competition, especially on patch reefs. By contrast, for species that aggregate socially, mortality should be IDD at the scale of individual aggregations but DDD at larger scales. The results of nearly all prior reef fish studies fit within this framework, although additional work is needed to test many of the predicted outcomes. This synthesis reconciles some apparent contradictions in the recent reef fish literature and suggests the importance of accounting for the scale-sensitive details of predator and prey behavior in any study system.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- J Wilson White
- Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Conservation Biology, University of California-Davis, Bodega Marine Laboratory, Bodega Bay, California 94923, USA.
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
21
|
Smith RJF. The Response of Asterropteryx semipunctatus and Gnatholepis anjerensis (Pisces, Gobiidae) to Chemical Stimuli from Injured Conspecifics, an Alarm Response in Gobies. Ethology 2010. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1439-0310.1989.tb00774.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
|
22
|
Smith RJF, Smith MJ. Predator-recognition Behaviour in Two Species of Gobiid Fishes, Asterropteryx semipunctatus and Gnatholepis anjerensis. Ethology 2010. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1439-0310.1989.tb00516.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
|
23
|
|
24
|
McCormick MI, Hoey AS. Larval growth history determines juvenile growth and survival in a tropical marine fish. OIKOS 2004. [DOI: 10.1111/j.0030-1299.2004.13131.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 116] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
|
25
|
|
26
|
Strong density-dependent survival and recruitment regulate the abundance of a coral reef fish. Oecologia 1995; 103:275-282. [PMID: 28306820 DOI: 10.1007/bf00328615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/1995] [Accepted: 03/24/1995] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Debate on the control of population dynamics in reef fishes has centred on whether patterns in abundance are determined by the supply of planktonic recruits, or by post-recruitment processes. Recruitment limitation implies little or no regulation of the reef-associated population, and is supported by several experimental studies that failed to detect density dependence. Previous manipulations of population density have, however, focused on juveniles, and there have been no tests for density-dependent interactions among adult reef fishes. I tested for population regulation in Coryphopterus glaucofraenum, a small, short-lived goby that is common in the Caribbean. Adult density was manipulated on artificial reefs and adults were also monitored on reefs where they varied in density naturally. Survival of adult gobies showed a strong inverse relationship with their initial density across a realistic range of densities. Individually marked gobies, however, grew at similar rates across all densities, suggesting that density-dependent survival was not associated with depressed growth, and so may result from predation or parasitism rather than from food shortage. Like adult survival, the accumulation of new recruits on reefs was also much lower at high adult densities than at low densities. Suppression of recruitment by adults may occur because adults cause either reduced larval settlement or reduced early post-settlement survival. In summary, this study has documented a previously unrecorded regulatory mechanism for reef fish populations (density-dependent adult mortality) and provided a particularly strong example of a well-established mechanism (density-dependent recruitment). In combination, these two compensatory mechanisms have the potential to strongly regulate the abundance of this species, and rule out the control of abundance by the supply of recruits.
Collapse
|