Abstract
ABSTRACT The recognition of chemical information indicating the presence of a predator is very important for prey survival. In this study we tested antipredator behavioral response of juvenile silver catfish (Rhamdia quelen) against predator odor released by two different potential predators, Hoplias malabaricus and the snake Helicops infrataeniatus, and alarm cues and disturbance cues released by conspecifics and by non-predator species, Megaleporinus obtusidens and Astyanax lacustris. We used juvenile catfish that were naive to predators. The trials consisted of a 10-min prestimulus and a 10-min post-stimulus observation period. The behavioral response displayed by silver catfish exposed to alarm cues comprised a decrease in shelter use and an increase in locomotion, and also a longer latency period before feeding. Our results showed that juvenile silver catfish can perceive chemical cues released by predators, heterospecifics and conspecifics.
Highlights
Predation is a strong selective force that shapes behavior, life histories and morphological features in prey (Lima, Dill, 1990; Chivers, Smith, 1998)
There was no significant difference in shelter use when juvenile were exposed to predators’ odor (Hoplias: V = 46, p = 0.0665; Helicops: V = 50, p = 0.1422), heterospecifics odor (Astyanax: V = 49, p = 0.1682; Megaleporinus: V = 33, p = 1) or to different alarm cues from conspecifics (V = 25, p = 0.8385) and heterospecifics (Astyanax: V = 16, p = 0.2622; Megaleporinus: V = 20.5, p = 0.7792 ) (Fig. 1)
There was an increase in swimming activity when fish were exposed to odor from both predators (Hoplias: V = 6, p = 0.0322; Helicops: V = 4.5, p = 0.0127), heteropecifics odor (V = 0, p = 0.00903) and to alarm cues from conspecifics (V = 6, p = 0.0578) (Fig. 2)
Summary
Predation is a strong selective force that shapes behavior, life histories and morphological features in prey (Lima, Dill, 1990; Chivers, Smith, 1998). The ability of prey to discern predators and avoid their threat improves the chance of surviving (Chivers et al, 1996). A second class of pre-attack chemical information comes from chemicals, essentially urinary ammonia (Wisenden, 2015), released by startled or disturbed prey and are referred as conspecific odor. A third class of cues is damaged-released alarm cues. Predators may damage prey tissue, epidermal tissue, during the attack and subsequent handling of prey prior to ingestion. Damaged epidermal tissues leak chemical compounds that are released in no other context and reliably advertise the presence of an actively foraging predator (Wisenden, 2015). All major groups of aquatic organisms, from protists to amphibians, show antipredator responses to alarm cues released from injured conspecifics (Wisenden, 2000)
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