Predator naïve minnows respond to their conspecific alarm substance but not the odour from a non‐native predator

Abstract

AbstractWhen exposed to predator cues, ostariophysan fishes exhibit short‐term anti‐predator behavioural responses in order to minimise predation risk. Non‐native predator cues are, however, likely to elicit poor behavioural responses in native prey fishes. This study investigated whether chubbyhead barb Enteromius anoplus, a native freshwater minnow in South Africa, had the innate ability to recognise and respond to largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides, a non‐native piscivore. This was experimentally evaluated by investigating behavioural responses to both the non‐native predator's odour and damage‐released conspecific alarm substance (CAS). Chubbyhead barbs did not exhibit any behavioural response to largemouth bass odour both before and after exposure to CAS. This suggests that the chubbyhead barbs likely lacked the innate ability to recognise the non‐native largemouth bass predator kairomones. By comparison, exposure to CAS was associated with significant behavioural responses, with chubbyhead barbs shifting from free‐swimming to hovering, and frequent use of refugia. This suggests that despite ineffective response to non‐native largemouth bass odour, chubbyhead barbs responded to general predator attack. Overall, this study suggests the potential for non‐native largemouth bass to induce negative consumptive effects on chubbyhead barbs due to their inability to identify non‐native predator's odour. In addition, nonconsumptive effects are likely due to altered activities in response to predator attack.