One of these morphs is not like the others: orange morphs exhibit different escape behavior than other morphs in a color polymorphic lizard

Variation in color morph behavior is an important factor in the maintenance of color polymorphism. Alternative anti-predator behaviors are often associated with morphological traits such as coloration, possibly because predator-mediated viability selection favors certain combinations of anti-predator behavior and color. The Aegean wall lizard, Podarcis erhardii, is color polymorphic and populations can have up to three monochromatic morphs: orange, yellow, and white. We investigated whether escape behaviors differ among coexisting color morphs, and if morph behaviors are repeatable across different populations with the same predator species. Specifically, we assessed color morph flight initiation distance (FID), distance to the nearest refuge (DNR), and distance to chosen refuge (DR) in two populations of Aegean wall lizards from Naxos island. We also analyzed the type of refugia color morphs selected and their re-emergence behavior following a standardized intrusion event. We found that orange morphs have different escape behaviors from white and yellow morphs, and these differences are consistent in both of the populations we sampled. Orange morphs have shorter FIDs, DNRs, and DRs, select different refuge types, and re-emerge less often after an intruder event compared to white and yellow morphs. Observed differences in color morph escape behaviors support the idea that morphs have evolved alternative behavioral strategies that may play a role in population-level morph maintenance and loss.

Effects of chlorpyrifos on early development and anti-predator behavior of agile frogs

The widespread application of pesticides makes it important to understand the impacts of these chemicals on wildlife populations. Chlorpyrifos is an organophosphate insecticide which can affect the development and behavior of aquatic organisms and may thereby alter predator-prey interactions. To investigate how environmentally relevant, sublethal concentrations of chlorpyrifos affect anti-predator behavior and larval development of the agile frog (Rana dalmatina), we exposed tadpoles to one of three concentrations (0, 0.5 and 5 μg chlorpyrifos / L) either for a brief period of three days (acute exposure) or throughout larval development (chronic exposure). We observed tadpole activity and space use in the presence or absence of chemical cues of predatory fish. We also assessed mortality, time to metamorphosis, mass at metamorphosis, brain morphology and sex ratio. We found that tadpoles chronically exposed to 5 μg/L chlorpyrifos swam distances that were longer by more than 20 % and exhibited body masses at metamorphosis that were lower by ca. 7 % than in control individuals, but the other fitness-related traits remained unaffected. The lower concentration of chlorpyrifos applied chronically, and either one of the acute chlorpyrifos treatments did not influence any measured trait. Our results demonstrate that exposure to chlorpyrifos can induce changes in locomotor activity and may result in lowered body mass of agile frog tadpoles, but only if the insecticide is present chronically at concentrations which are rarely reached in natural waterbodies. Thus, agile frog tadpoles appear to be relatively tolerant to chlorpyrifos, but may nonetheless suffer from its presence in situations of repeated high-dose application.

Mobbing in animals: a thorough review and proposed future directions

Mobbing is an important anti-predator behavior where prey harass and attack a predator to lower the immediate and long-term risk posed by predators, warn others, and communicate about the predator’s threat. While this behavior has been of interest to humans since antiquity, and aspects of it have been well researched for the past 50 years, we still know little about its ecology and the evolutionary pressures that gave rise to this ubiquitous anti- predator behavior. In this review, we explore what mobbing is, how it is used, what its functions are thought to be, its use as a proxy for cognition, before providing suggestions for specific future avenues of research necessary to improve our understanding of mobbing in its ecological and evolutionary context.

Mobbing in animals: a thorough review and proposed future directions

Mobbing is an important anti-predator behavior where prey harass and attack a predator to lower the immediate and long-term risk posed by predators, warn others, and communicate about the predator’s threat. While this behavior has been of interest to humans since antiquity, and aspects of it have been well researched for the past 50 years, we still know little about its ecology and the evolutionary pressures that gave rise to this ubiquitous anti-predator behavior. In this review, we explore what mobbing is, how it is used, what its functions are thought to be, its use as a proxy for cognition, before providing suggestions for specific future avenues of research necessary to improve our understanding of mobbing in its ecological and evolutionary context.

Local Stability Dynamics of Equilibrium Points in Predator-Prey Models with Anti-Predator Behavior

This article describes the dynamics of local stability equilibrium point models of interaction between prey populations and their predators. The model involves response functions in the form of Holling type III and anti-predator behavior. The existence and stability of the equilibrium point of the model can be obtained by reviewing several cases. One of the factors that affect the existence and local stability of the model equilibrium point is the carrying capacity (k) parameter. If x3∗, y3∗ > 0 is a constant solution of the model and ∈ (0,x3∗), then there is a unique boundary equilibrium point Ek (k , 0). Whereas, if k ∈ (x4∗, y4∗], then Ek (k, 0) is unstable and E3 (x3∗, y3∗) is stable. Furthermore, if k ∈ ( x4∗, ∞), then Ek ( k, 0) remains stable and E4 (x4∗, y4∗) is unstable, but the stability of the equilibrium point E3 (x3∗, y3∗) is branching. The equilibrium point E3 (x3∗, y3∗) can be stable or unstable depending on all parameters involved in the model. Variations of k parameter values are given in numerical simulation to verify the results of the analysis. Numerical simulation indicates that if k = 0,92 then nontrivial equilibrium point Ek (0,92 ; 0) stable. If k = 0,93 then Ek (0,93 ; 0) unstable and E3∗(0,929; 0,00003) stable. If k = 23,94, then Ek (23,94 ; 0) and E3∗(0,929; 0,143) stable, but E4∗(23,93 ; 0,0005) unstable. If k = 38 then Ek(38,0) stable, but E3∗(0,929; 0,145) and E4∗(23,93 ; 0,739) unstable.Keywords: anti-predator behavior, carrying capacity, and holling type III.

Analysis of The Rosenzweig-MacArthur Predator-Prey Model with Anti-Predator Behavior

This paper discusses the analysis of the Rosenzweig-MacArthur predator-prey model with anti-predator behavior. The analysis is started by determining the equilibrium points, existence, and conditions of the stability. Identifying the type of Hopf bifurcation by using the divergence criterion. It has shown that the model has three equilibrium points, i.e., the extinction of population equilibrium point (E0), the non-predatory equilibrium point (E1), and the co-existence equilibrium point (E2). The existence and stability of each equilibrium point can be shown by satisfying several conditions of parameters. The divergence criterion indicates the existence of the supercritical Hopf-bifurcation around the equilibrium point E2. Finally, our model's dynamics population is confirmed by our numerical simulations by using the 4th-order Runge-Kutta methods.

Investigation on dynamics of an impulsive predator–prey system with generalized Holling type IV functional response and anti-predator behavior

In the present article, we propose and analyze a new mathematical model for a predator–prey system including the following terms: a Monod–Haldane functional response (a generalized Holling type IV), a term describing the anti-predator behavior of prey populations and one for an impulsive control strategy. In particular, we establish the existence condition under which the system has a locally asymptotically stable prey-eradication periodic solution. Violating such a condition, the system turns out to be permanent. Employing bifurcation theory, some conditions, under which the existence and stability of a positive periodic solution of the system occur but its prey-eradication periodic solution becomes unstable, are provided. Furthermore, numerical simulations for the proposed model are given to confirm the obtained theoretical results.