The advantage of alternative tactics of prey and predators depends on the spatial pattern of prey and social interactions among predators |
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Authors: | Inon Scharf Ofer Ovadia Susanne Foitzik |
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Institution: | 1. Institute of Zoology, Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz, Johannes von Müller Weg 6, 55099 Mainz, Germany;2. Department of Life Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beersheba, Israel |
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Abstract: | Individual variation in behavioral strategies is ubiquitous in nature. Yet, explaining how this variation is being maintained
remains a challenging task. We use a spatially-explicit individual-based simulation model to evaluate the extent to which
the efficiency of an alternative spacing tactic of prey and an alternative search tactic of predators are influenced by the
spatial pattern of prey, social interactions among predators (i.e., interference and information sharing) and predator density.
In response to predation risk, prey individuals can either spread out or aggregate. We demonstrate that if prey is extremely
clumped, spreading out may help when predators share information regarding prey locations and when predators shift to area-restricted
search following an encounter with prey. However, dispersion is counter-selected when predators interact by interference,
especially under high predator density. When predators search for more randomly distributed prey, interference and information
sharing similarly affect the relative advantage of spreading out. Under a clumped prey spatial pattern, predators benefit
from shifting their search tactic to an area-restricted search following an encounter with prey. This advantage is moderated
as predator density increases and when predators interact either by interference or information sharing. Under a more random
prey pattern, information sharing may deteriorate the inferior search tactic even more, compared to interference or no interaction
among predators. Our simulation clarifies how interactions among searching predators may affect aggregation behavior of prey,
the relative success of alternative search tactics and their potential to invade established populations using some other
search or spacing tactics. |
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Keywords: | Alternative strategies Area-restricted search Dispersion Foraging Frequency-dependent selection Spreading out |
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