Sit-and-wait versus active-search hunting: A behavioral ecological model of optimal search mode

Ross, Cody T.; Winterhalder, Bruce

doi:10.1016/j.jtbi.2015.09.022

Cited by 35 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 65 publications

(64 reference statements)

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“…In addition, encounter rates of the sit‐and‐wait predator were strongly affected by prey body speed, whereas encounter rates of the active predator were affected by predator and prey body speed. Our results support previous observations and theory predicting that active predators will gain a relative performance advantage when prey speed and density are low, and that sit‐and‐wait strategies will be advantageous when prey speed and density are high (Huey and Pianka 1981, Werner and Anholt 1993, Ross and Winterhalder 2015). In addition, we found that the sit‐and‐wait predator was more energetically efficient, because it had higher growth rates despite lower feeding rates (Fig.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

Foraging strategy mediates ectotherm predator–prey responses to climate warming

Twardochleb

Treakle

Zarnetske

2020

Ecology

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Climate warming and species traits interact to influence predator performance, including individual feeding and growth rates. However, the effects of an important trait—predator foraging strategy—are largely unknown. We investigated the interactions between predator foraging strategy and temperature on two ectotherm predators: an active predator, the backswimmer Notonecta undulata, and a sit‐and‐wait predator, the damselfly Enallagma annexum. In a series of predator–prey experiments across a temperature gradient, we measured predator feeding rates on an active prey species, zooplankton Daphnia pulex, predator growth rates, and mechanisms that influence predator feeding: body speed of predators and prey (here measured as swimming speed), prey encounter rates, capture success, attack rates, and handling time. Overall, warming led to increased feeding rates for both predators through changes to each component of the predator’s functional response. We found that prey swimming speed strongly increased with temperature. The active predator’s swimming speed also increased with temperature, and together, the increase in predator and prey swimming speed resulted in twofold higher prey encounter rates for the active predator at warmer temperatures. By contrast, prey encounter rates of the sit‐and‐wait predator increased fourfold with rising temperatures as a result of increased prey swimming speed. Concurrently, increased prey swimming speed was associated with a decline in the active predator’s capture success at high temperatures, whereas the sit‐and‐wait predator’s capture success slightly increased with temperature. We provide some of the first evidence that foraging traits mediate the indirect effects of warming on predator performance. Understanding how traits influence species’ responses to warming could clarify how climate change will affect entire functional groups of species.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

Foraging strategy mediates ectotherm predator–prey responses to climate warming

Twardochleb

Treakle

Zarnetske

2020

Ecology

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“…This is consistent with optimal foraging theory, which predicts that, when feeding a predator will maximize its energy intake and minimize its energy expenditure (Godin & Keenleyside, 1984). The ambush mode of foraging is regarded by Ross & Winterhalder (2015) as optimal for fish species, such as O. dentex, that target mobile prey. As O. dentex is a top predator and relatively abundant on the rocky reefs of south-western Australia, it presumably plays an important role in the ecology of that environment.…”

Section: H a R Ac T E R I S T I C S C O N T R I B U T I N G T O S Usupporting

confidence: 81%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Optimization of foraging and diet by the piscivorous Othos dentex (Serranidae)

French

Platell

Clarke

et al. 2017

Journal of Fish Biology

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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, L , 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 (L ), 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.

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“…Changes in prey density (seal numbers) and habitat complexity (kelp density) may explain seasonal changes in fine‐scale behaviour (although we lacked the sample size to test for seasonal effects). Recent theoretical models predict that active searching becomes more advantageous as prey move slower and/or the energetic cost of predator movements decrease (Higginson & Ruxton ; Ross & Winterhalder ). Individuals switching hunting modes may be a strategy in itself, and match the predictions of the game theoretic Ambush Search strategy, where a predator alternates ambush with active searching which is predicted to increase the success of systematic searching (Alpern et al .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sex‐specific and individual preferences for hunting strategies in white sharks

et al. 2016

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Summary Fine‐scale predator movements may be driven by many factors including sex, habitat and distribution of resources. There may also be individual preferences for certain movement strategies within a population which can be hard to quantify. Within top predators, movements are also going to be directly related to the mode of hunting, for example sit‐and‐wait or actively searching for prey. Although there is mounting evidence that different hunting modes can cause opposing trophic cascades, there has been little focus on the modes used by top predators, especially those in the marine environment. Adult white sharks (Carcharhodon carcharias) are well known to forage on marine mammal prey, particularly pinnipeds. Sharks primarily ambush pinnipeds on the surface, but there has been less focus on the strategies they use to encounter prey. We applied mixed hidden Markov models to acoustic tracking data of white sharks in a coastal aggregation area in order to quantify changing movement states (area‐restricted searching (ARS) vs. patrolling) and the factors that influenced them. Individuals were re‐tracked over multiple days throughout a month to see whether state‐switching dynamics varied or if individuals preferred certain movement strategies. Sharks were more likely to use ARS movements in the morning and during periods of chumming by ecotourism operators. Furthermore, the proportion of time individuals spent in the two different states and the state‐switching frequency, differed between the sexes and between individuals. Predation attempts/success on pinnipeds were observed for sharks in both ARS and patrolling movement states and within all random effects groupings. Therefore, white sharks can use both a ‘sit‐and‐wait’ (ARS) and ‘active searching’ (patrolling) movements to ambush pinniped prey on the surface. White sharks demonstrate individual preferences for fine‐scale movement patterns, which may be related to their use of different hunting modes. Marine top predators are generally assumed to use only one type of hunting mode, but we show that there may be a mix within populations. As such, individual variability should be considered when modelling behavioural effects of predators on prey species.

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Sit-and-wait versus active-search hunting: A behavioral ecological model of optimal search mode

Cited by 35 publications

References 65 publications

Foraging strategy mediates ectotherm predator–prey responses to climate warming

Foraging strategy mediates ectotherm predator–prey responses to climate warming

Optimization of foraging and diet by the piscivorous Othos dentex (Serranidae)

Sex‐specific and individual preferences for hunting strategies in white sharks

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