Spatial and Temporal Scales of Predator Avoidance: Experiments With Fish and Snails

Abstract

Predators often induce shifts in the traits of nearby prey, and these trait shifts are important in mediating a variety of evolutionary and ecological processes. However, little is known about the spatial and temporal scales over which predators induce trait shifts. We empirically determined the spatial scale of predator avoidance by measuring the habitat use and growth rates of snails (Physa acuta) held at varying distances from a caged pumpkinseed sunfish (Lepomis gibbosus). Refuge use was highest near the fish and gradually decayed to background level, with a characteristic response range of 1.0 m. Snail growth rates were negligible near the predator but increased with greater separation from fish. The dependence of behavior on the age of chemical cues was measured in a mesocosm experiment in which water was withdrawn from a tank holding pumpkinseeds and held for varying lengths of time before being added to experimental mesocosms with snails. Fresh cues elicited the strongest habitat shifts relative to well‐water controls, and avoidance behavior decayed in an exponential manner with increasing cue age. The characteristic lifetime of avoidance behavior was 41 h. Taken together, these results allow us to begin to describe the behavioral landscape created by mobile predators. Corresponding Editor: S. P. Lawler

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