Top predator's aggressiveness and mesopredator's risk-aversion additively determine probability of predation
The result's identifiers
Result code in IS VaVaI
<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F62156489%3A43410%2F18%3A43914290" target="_blank" >RIV/62156489:43410/18:43914290 - isvavai.cz</a>
Result on the web
<a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s00265-018-2520-8" target="_blank" >https://doi.org/10.1007/s00265-018-2520-8</a>
DOI - Digital Object Identifier
<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00265-018-2520-8" target="_blank" >10.1007/s00265-018-2520-8</a>
Alternative languages
Result language
angličtina
Original language name
Top predator's aggressiveness and mesopredator's risk-aversion additively determine probability of predation
Original language description
Predator-prey interactions strongly affect ecological dynamics. Consistent inter-individual differences in behaviour (individual behavioural types, BTs) of predator and prey (or both) may fundamentally shape their mutual interactions. Several recent studies have shown that it is important to consider the interaction of BTs on both sides of predator-prey interactions. Otherwise, there is a high risk of erroneous inference about the outcome of predation. Until now, however, no study has investigated how BT vs BT interaction affects the predation of mesopredators by top predators, especially when the mesopredator is a low-ranked prey for the top predator. Such knowledge is extremely important if we want to predict the effect of individual BTs on food web dynamics. We have investigated in our laboratory experiments how foraging aggressiveness of the top predator (spider, Philodromus cespitum, Philodromidae) and risk-aversion as a form of shyness of the mesopredator (spider, Philodromus albidus, Philodromidae) determine the probability of predation. The highest explanatory power had the model with additive effects of mesopredator's risk-aversion and top predator's foraging aggressiveness. Other models, including those with BT vs BT interaction, had poor explanatory power. It was probably due to the fact that timid top predators are often choosy and do not catch low-ranked prey, while aggressive top predators are opportunists. The risk-averse mesopredators are also more cautious than risk-prone mesopredators regarding their surroundings and can defend themselves faster. Our results therefore fit with the classical hypothesis about trade-off between foraging and safety. Behavioural types of predator and prey jointly determine the mortality of prey. In our laboratory experiments, we investigated how foraging aggressiveness of a top predator spider and the risk-aversion of a mesopredator spider (potential prey) determine the probability of predation. We demonstrated that top predator's foraging aggressiveness and mesopredator's risk-aversion determine the probability of mesopredator's mortality only additively. The mesopredator's probability of being killed decreased with its risk-aversion and increased with top predator's foraging aggressiveness. The effect was additive instead of interactive because the mesopredator represents a dangerous prey for the top predator. The timid top predators are also choosy and do not attack dangerous prey, while the aggressive/non-choosy top predators are opportunistic. Further, the risk-averse mesopredators are more cautious regarding their surroundings and can react faster to the presence of a top predator, compared to risk-prone and slowly reacting mesopredators.
Czech name
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Czech description
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Classification
Type
J<sub>imp</sub> - Article in a specialist periodical, which is included in the Web of Science database
CEP classification
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OECD FORD branch
10613 - Zoology
Result continuities
Project
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Continuities
S - Specificky vyzkum na vysokych skolach
Others
Publication year
2018
Confidentiality
S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů
Data specific for result type
Name of the periodical
Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology
ISSN
0340-5443
e-ISSN
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Volume of the periodical
72
Issue of the periodical within the volume
7
Country of publishing house
DE - GERMANY
Number of pages
8
Pages from-to
"nestrankovano"
UT code for WoS article
000434758100002
EID of the result in the Scopus database
2-s2.0-85048294501