Erratic Display as a Device against Predators

Humphries, David; Driver, Peter M.

doi:10.1126/science.156.3783.1767

Cited by 96 publications

(42 citation statements)

References 5 publications

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“…We now suggest that these two defences share the underlying mechanism of Protean Behavior, named after the Greek God Proteus who frequently changed his appearance and character in order to confuse others. Protean behavior is based on frequent and irregular behavioral changes that confuse the predator, allowing the prey to elude the attack [22,23]. Group animals under attack scatter to escape in various directions, confusing the predator, which has to focus on one prey animal and ignore the others.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Protean behavior under barn-owl attack: voles alternate between freezing and fleeing and spiny mice flee in alternating patterns

Edut

Eilam

2004

Behavioural Brain Research

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When attacking a spiny mouse in an experimental arena, a barn owl launched a few attacks from distant perches, made repetitive short-distance swoops in each attack and remained in the vicinity of the prey while chasing it. The spiny mouse fled in response, and typically oriented to face the owl whenever it stopped. When attacking a vole, the barn owl performed a greater number of attacks from distant perches, and left the vicinity of the prey after a few short-distance chases or capture attempts. Voles responded to these attacks in unspecific combinations of freezing and fleeing, and did not turn to face the owl when they stopped. Four conclusions are drawn from these encounters. First, two strategies characterized these predator-prey interactions; in one, both predator and prey continuously maintained awareness of each other's location; whereas in the other they continuously attempted to avoid the attention of the other. Second, responses of spiny mice and voles were a manifestation of protean behavior, with spiny mice fleeing in an alternating pattern and voles alternating between running and freezing. Third, locomotor response to owl attack comprised behavior that is an augmentation of normal behavior, with voles clinging to the walls and spiny mice running with frequent and irregular changes in direction. Fourth, the different defensive responses accord with the motor capacities and habitat of each rodent species. All in all, these results demonstrate the dynamic and multidimensional nature of predator-prey interactions.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Protean behavior under barn-owl attack: voles alternate between freezing and fleeing and spiny mice flee in alternating patterns

Edut

Eilam

2004

Behavioural Brain Research

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“…That is, dazzle coloration may interact with protean movements (Humphries & Driver 1967), and so evaluation of the trajectories of fleeing prey should consider potential sensory implications. Alternatively, dazzle effects may afford protection to prey moving for non-defensive reasons, which are suddenly attacked by a previously undetected predator.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dazzle coloration and prey movement

2008

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Many traits in animals reduce the rate of attack from visually hunting predators, including camouflage, warning signals and mimicry. In addition, some animal markings may reduce the likelihood that an attack ends in successful capture. These might include dazzle markings, high-contrast patterns that make the estimation of speed and trajectory difficult. However, until now, no study has experimentally tested whether some markings may achieve such an effect. We developed a computer 'game' where human 'predators' have to capture computer-generated prey moving across a background. In two experiments, we find that although uniform camouflaged targets were among the hardest to capture, so were a range of high-contrast conspicuous patterns, such as bands and zigzags. Prey were also more difficult to capture against more heterogeneous than uniform backgrounds, and at faster speeds of movement. As such, we find the first experimental evidence that conspicuous patterns, similar to those found in a wide range of real animals, make the capture of moving prey more challenging. Various anti-predator markings may work prey during motion, and some animals may combine such dazzle patterns with other functions, such as camouflage, thermoregulation, sexual and warning signals.

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“…When disturbed, the beetles display a fright reaction in which the insects turn in multiple circles at high speed (Tucker, 1969). This reaction is termed 'protean behavior' (Humphries and Driver, 1967;Newhouse and Aiken, 1986), which is defined as that behavior "which is sufficiently unsystematic to prevent predicting in detail the position or actions of the actor. "…”

Section: Whirligig Maneuversmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Relative minimum radius was 24% of body length. Maximum rate of turn was 4428·degrees·s -1 with maximum centripetal accelerationperform territorial displays (Humphries and Driver, 1967;Newhouse and Aiken, 1986;Fitzgerald, 1987). Typical circular turns have a radius of less than twice the length of the beetle (Fitzgerald, 1987).…”

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confidence: 99%

Aquatic turning performance by the whirligig beetle: constraints on maneuverability by a rigid biological system

Fish

Nicastro

2003

Journal of Experimental Biology

105

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SUMMARYTurning performance is constrained by morphology, where the flexibility of the body and the mobility and position of the control surfaces determine the level of performance. The use of paddling appendages in conjunction with the rigid bodies of aquatic arthropods could potentially limit their turning performance. Whirligig beetles (Coleoptera: Gyrinidae) are rigid-bodied, but these aquatic insects can swim rapidly in circular patterns. Turning performance of swimming whirligig beetles (Dineutes horni) was assessed by videotaping beetles in a small (115 mm diameter) arena at 500 frames s–1 and 1000 frames s–1. Curved trajectories were executed as continuous powered turns. Asymmetrical paddling of the outboard legs was used to power the turn. Turns were produced also by abduction of the inboard elytra and vectored thrust generated from sculling of the wing at 47.14 Hz. The abducted elytra increased drag and acted as a pivot. Swimming speeds varied from 0.06 m s–1 to 0.55 m s–1 (4.7–44.5 L s–1). Relative minimum radius was 24%of body length. Maximum rate of turn was 4428 degrees s–1 with maximum centripetal acceleration of 2.86 g. Turning radius was weakly associated with swimming velocity,although minimum values of the radius showed no correlation with velocity. Turning rate was also related indirectly to radius and directly to centripetal acceleration. Compared to vertebrates with flexible bodies, the relative turning radius of whirligig beetles is constrained by a rigid body and use of drag-based propulsive mechanisms. However, these mechanisms permit continuous turning, and the size of the beetle permits higher turn rates with lower centripetal accelerations.

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Erratic Display as a Device against Predators

Cited by 96 publications

References 5 publications

Protean behavior under barn-owl attack: voles alternate between freezing and fleeing and spiny mice flee in alternating patterns

Protean behavior under barn-owl attack: voles alternate between freezing and fleeing and spiny mice flee in alternating patterns

Dazzle coloration and prey movement

Aquatic turning performance by the whirligig beetle: constraints on maneuverability by a rigid biological system

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