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Predator Attack Strategy and Prey Behaviour Drive Individual Predation Risk in Schooling Prey

22 Pages Posted: 26 Jan 2021 Publication Status: Review Complete

See all articles by Jolle Wolter Jolles

Jolle Wolter Jolles

Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior - Department of Collective Behaviour

Matt M. G. Sosna

Princeton University - Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

Geoffrey P. F. Mazué

The University of Sydney - School of Life and Environmental Sciences

Colin R. Twomey

University of Pennsylvania - Department of Biology

Joseph Bak-Coleman

Princeton University - Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

Daniel I. Rubenstein

Princeton University - Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

Iain D. Couzin

Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior - Department of Collective Behaviour

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Abstract

Predation is one of the main drivers of animal grouping. However, predation risk is not shared equally within groups. Despite long-standing theoretical work and strong empirical insights, very little work has examined the real-time dynamics of predators attacking groups of prey nor quantified the features that predict prey predation risk and survival. Here we used high resolution tracking of Northern pike (Esox lucius) attacking large schools of prey (golden shiner fish, Notemigonus crysoleucas) to get a mechanistic quantification of predation at every stage of the attack. We found that pike tended to attack the groups head-on, but did so stealthily, often striking only when partly within the school. From the predator’s perspective, relative position to the prey was the most important feature, with shiners very close and directly in front of the pike being most at risk. From the prey’s perspective, we found that central individuals, with relatively low local neighbour density and alignment, face increased risk. While the majority of attacks were successful, escape was associated with individuals achieving high maximum movement speeds, relative to others. Our study highlights both predator attack strategy and prey behaviour are key factors underlying the predation risk of grouping prey, and our results contradict the long-held assertion arising from Hamilton’s “selfish herd” concept that central positions are safer. To ultimately understand the cost-benefits that underly the evolution of animal grouping it is thus key to consider the multifaceted, and dynamical, nature of predator-prey relationships.

Keywords: animal grouping, collective behaviour, domain of danger, marginal predation, pike, predation risk, predator-prey, schooling, selfish herd, survival

Suggested Citation

Jolles, Jolle Wolter and Sosna, Matt M. G. and Mazué, Geoffrey P. F. and Twomey, Colin R. and Bak-Coleman, Joseph and Rubenstein, Daniel I. and Couzin, Iain D., Predator Attack Strategy and Prey Behaviour Drive Individual Predation Risk in Schooling Prey. Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3773783 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3773783
This version of the paper has not been formally peer reviewed.

Jolle Wolter Jolles (Contact Author)

Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior - Department of Collective Behaviour ( email )

Germany

Matt M. G. Sosna

Princeton University - Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology ( email )

Geoffrey P. F. Mazué

The University of Sydney - School of Life and Environmental Sciences ( email )

Level 5, Carslaw Building (F07)
Sydney, New South Wales 2006
Australia

Colin R. Twomey

University of Pennsylvania - Department of Biology ( email )

Philadelphia, PA 19104
United States

Joseph Bak-Coleman

Princeton University - Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

Daniel I. Rubenstein

Princeton University - Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology ( email )

Iain D. Couzin

Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior - Department of Collective Behaviour ( email )

Germany

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