Unpredictable movement as an anti-predator strategy

In this study, we used human ‘predators’ participating in 3D virtual reality simulations to test how protean (i.e. unpredictable) variation in prey movement affects participants' ability to visually target them as they move (a key determinant of successful predation). We found that targeting accuracy was significantly predicted by prey movement path complexity, although, surprisingly, there was little evidence that high levels of unpredictability in the underlying movement rules equated directly to decreased predator performance. Instead, the specific movement rules differed in how they impacted on targeting accuracy, with the efficacy of protean variation in one element depending on the values of the remaining elements. These findings provide important insights into the understudied phenomenon of protean antipredator behaviour, which are directly applicable to predator–prey dynamics within a broad range of taxa.

Source: Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences - August 22, 2018 Category: Biology Authors: Richardson, G., Dickinson, P., Burman, O. H. P., Pike, T. W. Tags: behaviour Source Type: research