Visual and Chemical Prey Cues as Complementary Predator Attractants in a Tropical Stream Fish Assemblage

To date, little attention has been devoted to possible complementary effects of multiple forms of public information similar information on the foraging behaviour of predators. In order to examine how predators may incorporate multiple information sources, we conducted a series of predator attractio...

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Main Authors: Chris K. Elvidge, Grant E. Brown
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2012-01-01
Series:International Journal of Zoology
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/510920
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author Chris K. Elvidge
Grant E. Brown
author_facet Chris K. Elvidge
Grant E. Brown
author_sort Chris K. Elvidge
collection DOAJ
description To date, little attention has been devoted to possible complementary effects of multiple forms of public information similar information on the foraging behaviour of predators. In order to examine how predators may incorporate multiple information sources, we conducted a series of predator attraction trials in the Lower Aripo River, Trinidad. Four combinations of visual (present or absent) and chemical cues (present or absent) from each of two prey species were presented. The occurrences of three locally abundant predatory species present within a 1 m radius of cue introduction sites were recorded. The relative attractiveness of cue type to each predator was directly related to their primary foraging modes, with visual ambush predators demonstrating an attraction to visual cues, benthivores to chemical cues, and active social foragers demonstrating complementary responses to paired cues. Predator species-pair counts were greatest in response to cues from the more abundant prey species, indicating that individuals may adopt riskier foraging strategies when presented with more familiar prey cues. These differences in predator attraction patterns demonstrate complementary effects of multiple sensory cues on the short-term habitat use and foraging behaviour of predators under fully natural conditions.
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spelling doaj-art-68a26a9cb25948b4a0727f6c1a00d6452025-02-03T01:30:13ZengWileyInternational Journal of Zoology1687-84771687-84852012-01-01201210.1155/2012/510920510920Visual and Chemical Prey Cues as Complementary Predator Attractants in a Tropical Stream Fish AssemblageChris K. Elvidge0Grant E. Brown1Department of Biology, Concordia University, 7141 Sherbrooke St. West, Montreal, QC, H4B 1R6, CanadaDepartment of Biology, Concordia University, 7141 Sherbrooke St. West, Montreal, QC, H4B 1R6, CanadaTo date, little attention has been devoted to possible complementary effects of multiple forms of public information similar information on the foraging behaviour of predators. In order to examine how predators may incorporate multiple information sources, we conducted a series of predator attraction trials in the Lower Aripo River, Trinidad. Four combinations of visual (present or absent) and chemical cues (present or absent) from each of two prey species were presented. The occurrences of three locally abundant predatory species present within a 1 m radius of cue introduction sites were recorded. The relative attractiveness of cue type to each predator was directly related to their primary foraging modes, with visual ambush predators demonstrating an attraction to visual cues, benthivores to chemical cues, and active social foragers demonstrating complementary responses to paired cues. Predator species-pair counts were greatest in response to cues from the more abundant prey species, indicating that individuals may adopt riskier foraging strategies when presented with more familiar prey cues. These differences in predator attraction patterns demonstrate complementary effects of multiple sensory cues on the short-term habitat use and foraging behaviour of predators under fully natural conditions.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/510920
spellingShingle Chris K. Elvidge
Grant E. Brown
Visual and Chemical Prey Cues as Complementary Predator Attractants in a Tropical Stream Fish Assemblage
International Journal of Zoology
title Visual and Chemical Prey Cues as Complementary Predator Attractants in a Tropical Stream Fish Assemblage
title_full Visual and Chemical Prey Cues as Complementary Predator Attractants in a Tropical Stream Fish Assemblage
title_fullStr Visual and Chemical Prey Cues as Complementary Predator Attractants in a Tropical Stream Fish Assemblage
title_full_unstemmed Visual and Chemical Prey Cues as Complementary Predator Attractants in a Tropical Stream Fish Assemblage
title_short Visual and Chemical Prey Cues as Complementary Predator Attractants in a Tropical Stream Fish Assemblage
title_sort visual and chemical prey cues as complementary predator attractants in a tropical stream fish assemblage
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/510920
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