Predominance of Cross-predation or Parallel-predation in Fish

Abstract

AbstractThis chapter describes the effects of morphological antisymmetry and behavioral lateralization on predator-prey interactions in fishes. In fishes with morphological antisymmetry, predation events are defined as either cross-predation (the predator takes in prey of a different morphological type to itself) or parallel-predation (the predator takes in prey of the same morphological type as itself). Previous studies have demonstrated the predominance of cross-predation in some piscivorous fishes using stomach contents analysis. To understand the mechanism responsible for the predominance of cross-predation in fish communities, I conducted field sampling, stomach contents analysis, and behavioral experiments on largemouth bass and freshwater goby in a Japanese lake. Based on the results of behavioral experiments, I concluded that the predominance of cross-predation was caused by the lateral bias in the approach direction of bass and in the evasive distance of gobies according to their morphological type. Furthermore, I discussed the mechanism by which parallel-predation prevails and newly discovered it in the relationship between anglerfish and its prey species.KeywordsPredator-prey interactionCross-predationParallel-predationBehavioral asymmetry