Do faster starts increase the probability of evading predators

By Jeffrey A. Walker, C. Ghalambor, O. Griset, D. McKenney, D. Reznick. 2005

433 citations recorded by the source corpus.

Summary 1 Nearly all fish evade predation strikes by rapidly accelerating out of the strike path, a behaviour called the fast-start evasion response. The many studies investigating morphological, behavioural and ecological correlates of fast-start performance assume that faster starts increase the probability of evasion. 2 We tested this faster-start hypothesis by measuring the effect of acceleration ability on evasion outcome (success, failure) in Guppies (Poecilia reticulata) evading the strike of a natural predator, the Pike Cichlid (Crenicichla alta). 3 Four parameters affect evasion outcome: two parameters important to the predator–prey interaction but not to the faster-start hypothesis – (1) the time required to reach the prey by the striking predator (measured by the initial distance between predator and prey and strike velocity), (2) the evasion path of the prey relative to the strike path of the predator; and two parameters relevant to the faster-start hypothesis – (1) the ability of the prey to generate rapid tangential acceleration (measured by net distance travelled, maximum velocity, and maximum acceleration), and (2) the ability of the prey to rapidly rotate during the initial stage of the fast start. 4 On average, a one standard deviation increase in fast-start performance increases the odds of surviving a predation strike 2·3-fold. These results support the assumption that faster starts increase the probability of successfully evading a predation strike.

Subfields: Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics, Global and Planetary Change, Nature and Landscape Conservation

View Paper: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/51b0a359053287cc912c61bbfd3e26fbab38ffd2

How researchers see this paper

The researchers whose trusted networks rank it highest, strongest advocate first. Every researcher gets a different order.

In Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics

In Global and Planetary Change

In Nature and Landscape Conservation

Citations in the corpus

Evolution of Placentas in the Fish Family Poeciliidae: An Empirical Study of Macroevolution (2009, background): “A reduction in these swimming-performance variables increases predation risk in guppies exposed to a natural predator (Walker et al. 2005), suggesting that during pregnancy females may become increasingly vulnerable to predation.”
Evaluating performance costs of sexually selected traits (2007, background): “This mode of swimming is important for evading predators (Walker et al. 2005) and is characterized as an 'unsteady' swimming state.”
How does selection operate on whole-organism functional performance capacities? A review and synthesis (2008, background): “Walker et al. (2005) quantified selection on fast-start performance in guppies (Poecilia reticulata) arising as a result of predation by a fish predator.”
The Effect of Hypoxia on Fish Swimming Performance and Behaviour (2013, background): “Hypoxia impaired locomotor performance of the escape response in golden grey mullet Liza aurata (Lefrançois et al. 2005), which can be expected to increase their vulnerability to predation (Walker et al. 2005).”