The effect of turbidity on recognition and generalization of predators and non‐predators in aquatic ecosystems

Ecology and Evolution

Douglas P. Chivers¹  Fawaz Al-Batati¹  Grant E. Brown² 

[1] Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan, SK, Canada;Department of Biology, Concordia University, QC, Canada

关键词: Anthropogenic change;    anti‐predator behavior;    fathead minnows;    predator recognition;    risk assessment;    turbidity;   

DOI  :  10.1002/ece3.454

来源: Wiley

【 摘 要 】

Abstract

Recent anthropogenic activities have caused a considerable change in the turbidity of freshwater and marine ecosystems. Concomitant with such perturbations are changes in community composition. Understanding the mechanisms through which species interactions are influenced by anthropogenic change has come to the forefront of many ecological disciplines. Here, we examine how a change in the availability of visual information influences the behavior of prey fish exposed to potential predators and non-predators. When fathead minnows, Pimephales promelas, were conditioned to recognize predators and non-predators in clear water, they showed a highly sophisticated ability to distinguish predators from non-predators. However, when learning occurred under conditions of increased turbidity, the ability of the prey to learn and generalize recognition of predators and non-predators was severely impaired. Our work highlights that changes at the community level associated with anthropogenic perturbations may be mediated through altered trophic interactions, and highlights the need to closely examine behavioral interactions to understand how species interactions change.

【 授权许可】

Unknown   
© 2012 The Authors. Published by Blackwell Publishing Ltd. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.