Adaptive significance of antipredator behaviour in artiodactyls

Caro, Tim; Graham, Caroline; Stoner, C. J.; Vargas, Jaime

doi:10.1016/j.anbehav.2002.12.007

Cited by 158 publications

(113 citation statements)

References 75 publications

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“…To pit this hypothesis against the others, we categorized group size for each species into a 1-4 scale: 1 ¼ 'solitary only', 2 ¼ 'solitary and intermediate-sized groups', 3 ¼ 'intermediate-sized groups only', and 4 ¼ 'intermediate-sized and large groups' based on published data (Caro et al 2004). …”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…(b) Openness of habitat Since species that live in more open habitats with less protective cover are likely to be more conspicuous to predators, we created an openness score for each species by editing previously scored (Caro et al 2004) habitat categories using Nowak (1999) to include only the primary habitat types (limiting these to only one to two habitat types per species) to give greater weight to those habitats in which the species spends the most time. We created openness scores for each habitat type (dense forest ¼ swamp ¼ 0.001, light forest ¼ 0.1, scrubland ¼ 0.2, grassland ¼ 0.75, rocky ¼ 0.9 and tundra ¼ desert ¼ 1), which were formulated based on how much relative cover each habitat provided and from how far away an animal could be seen in each environment.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Evolution of weaponry in female bovids

2009

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Weaponry is ubiquitous in male ungulates and is driven by intrasexual selection, but the mystery surrounding its sporadic presence in females remains unsolved. Female horns are often smaller and shaped differently to male horns, suggesting a different function; indeed, hypotheses explaining the presence of female horns include competition for food, male mollification and defence against predators. Here we use comparative phylogenetic analyses to show that females are significantly more likely to bear horns in bovids that are conspicuous due to large body size and living in open habitats than inconspicuous species living in closed habitats or that are small. An inability to rely on crypsis or take refuge in deep vegetation has apparently driven the evolution of horns for defence against predators in female bovids, a finding supported by many field observations. Typically, exceptions are small species where females are territorial (e.g. duikers) and use horns in intrasexual contests. Furthermore, we suggest that conspicuousness and territoriality hypotheses may explain other instances of female cranial weaponry (i.e. antlers and ossicones) in other horned ruminants. Our phylogenetic reconstruction indicates that the primary function of horns in females is linked to antipredator defence in most clades, but occasionally to intrasexual competition in others.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evolution of weaponry in female bovids

2009

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“…An association between social or aggressive defenses and open habitats has been widely reported (Jarman 1974;Lima 1993;Caro et al 2004). Although such observations provide a valuable starting point, our results suggest that it is insufficient to identify correlations between prey defenses and habitat characteristics to assess the adaptive value of prey defenses.…”

Section: Temporal Variation In Predation Pressure and The Evolution Omentioning

confidence: 99%

Prey Behavior, Age‐Dependent Vulnerability, and Predation Rates

Lingle¹,

Feldman²,

Boyce³

et al. 2008

The American Naturalist

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“…Their response included attempts to outswim attackers (straight line burst), foil them (erratic swimming), or avoid being perceived by potential attackers (staying still by the bottom or in crevices), somewhat analogous to strategies known in artiodactyle mammals (Caro et al, 2004). Lepidophagy and muciphagy result in negative consequences for the fish attacked, like the wounds we observed in Estivado River.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Mutilating predation in the Cheirodontinae Odontostilbe pequira (Characiformes: Characidae)

et al. 2012

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We observed individuals of Odontostilbe pequira, a small characid, approaching and biting individuals of larger-bodied fishes of other species. This observation was made in two clear water headwater streams of the Cuiabá basin, Paraguay River system, located in Nobres, Mato Grosso State, Brazil, which led us to investigate the behavioral interactions of these fish. We characterized behavioral interactions between species by direct underwater observations using snorkelling and video recordings. Additionally, we proceeded diet analyses of O. pequira, obtaining intestinal coefficient and the index of alimentary importance. During underwater observations we checked the relative frequency of attacks by O. pequira on larger fish species. Odontostilbe pequira attacked individually or in large groups, and the anostomid Leporinus friderici was the preferred target prey species, while Prochilodus lineatus was apparently avoided. Our study sustains that O. pequira is omnivorous, with a diet that varies seasonally. It feeds mainly on plants, but also on animal prey, including the scales of small fishes, and, possibly, the mucus and epidermis of larger fish species. We suggest the term "mutilating predation" to describe the latter relationship.Observamos indivíduos de Odontostilbe pequira, um caracídeo pequeno, abordando e mordendo peixes maiores de outras espécies. Essa observação foi feita em dois riachos de cabeceira com águas cristalinas na bacia do rio Cuiabá, sistema do rio Paraguai, localizados em Nobres, Mato Grosso, Brasil, o que nos levou a investigar a interação comportamental desses peixes. Nós o fizemos através de observações subaquáticas diretas usando mergulho livre e vídeo. Adicionalmente, realizamos a análise da dieta de O. pequira, obtendo seu coeficiente intestinal e índice de importância alimentar. Nas observações subaquáticas avaliamos a frequência relativa dos ataques de O. pequira sobre peixes maiores. Odontostilbe pequira ataca individualmente ou em grupos grandes, o anostomídeo Leporinus friderici foi a presa preferida, enquanto Prochilodus lineatus foi evitado. Este estudo sustenta que O. pequira é um peixe onívoro cuja dieta varia sazonalmente. Ele come principalmente plantas, mas também presas animais, como escamas de peixes pequenos e, possivelmente, muco e epiderme de peixes maiores. Sugerimos o termo "predação mutilante" para descrever essa relação.

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Adaptive significance of antipredator behaviour in artiodactyls

Cited by 158 publications

References 75 publications

Evolution of weaponry in female bovids

Evolution of weaponry in female bovids

Prey Behavior, Age‐Dependent Vulnerability, and Predation Rates

Mutilating predation in the Cheirodontinae Odontostilbe pequira (Characiformes: Characidae)

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