Anti-Predatory Behaviour

what are the three mechanism of anti-predatory behaviour

Avoiding Detection

Evading capture

Fighting Back

What is Crypsis

A behavioral and physiological adaptation that allows an organism to avoid detection by predators, often through camouflage or hiding.

what are the two types of crypsis

Concealment and Mimicry

What is Camouflage

colour or shape that makes an animal difficult to be detected from a visual predator on its normal substrate

what is Mimicry

when one species evolves to look, sound, smell or act like another species

what is an example of predator avoidance

Nests, caves and burrows

or night foraging

what are the three types of camouflage

Countershading

Background matching

Disruptive colouration

what is an example of Disruptive colouration

Zebras

make it hard for the predators to determine the outline of the individual in a herd especially when grouped together

what is an example of camouflage - Exam Study

Pepper Moth- which originally white and suffered when pollution turned trees black they evolved to the changing environment into a black colouring meaning they blended in with their environment and reduced predation.

what are some animals that change due to environmental changes over the seasons

Artic Hare

Snowshoe Hare

what is Aposematism

use of colouration to warn potential predators that an animal is venomous/ poisonous

how do predators know the colours mean danger - Aposematism

the can learn through association by once having had an experience

this can be embedded in their memory for future safety

what is Monarch caterpillars anti-predatory behaviour -Exam Study

they eat poisonous milkweed, this makes to future butterfly noxious to predators.

why is Milkweed Poisonous

attacks sodium pump in muscles which helps muscles to relax after contraction by removing Na+, this is deadly in heart muscle causing cardiac arrest as it keeps the heart beating faster and faster causing an attack and death

How is the Monarch Caterpillar able to eat milkweed

three mutation are needed to provide immunity

2 make the sodium immune to attack

1 prevents seizures that i caused by the other two (Which cause neurological damage)

what are the two types of Mimicry

Batesian - type of mimicry in the which an innocuous animal looks like or behave like a bad-tasting poisonous or dangerous animal.

Muellerian - when two unpalatable preys have evolved the same apperance to behaviour

when is mimicry most effective

in the same area as the actual dangerous animal to allow the predator to build a memory of the dangerous prey

How does the King Snake show the effectiveness of mimicry -Exam Study

they were attacked by predators more frequently in areas where coral snakes (the actual dangerous snake) are absent

what are some other anti-predatory berhaviours

startle behaviour or diversion

bull snakes rattle leaves to mimic the sound of a rattlesnake

Eye spots of Butterflies

how harmful is The blue ringed Octopus Venom

10,000 times more toxic than cyanid and fast acting

what anti-predatory stratagies are common of group living species

Alarm calls and Vigilance

what is a sentinal in a Kin-based social group

A sentinel is an individual in a group of animals that remains vigilant for predators while the rest of the group forages or engages in other activities. This behavior enhances the survival of the group by providing early warning of potential threats.

what are the costs of Alarm calls - Exam Study

Can attract the predators themselves

Marmots who produce alarm calls at a higher rate are less likely to survive in summer

what are some advantages of group living

dilution effect

Confusion effect

selfish herd effect

what is the dilution effect in group living

the more individuals there are the more choice the predator has and the probability of attack on one specific individual is lowered the larger the group

what is the confusion effect in group living

hard for predators to focus on one individual

what is the selfish herd effect in group living

you can sacrifice a member to save yourself

what behaviour occurs innolving Redshanks in group living

the birds were more likely to be targeted by sparrowhawks when they were further away from the group compared to the nearest neighbour - Selfish herd effect

What is thanatosis

A defensive behavior where an animal remains motionless or plays dead to avoid predation.

what are some evasion strategies

speed

showing of energy

confusing - ink-ejection

what are the benefits of ink-ejection for cephalopods- Exam Study

confuses predator

distracting if animals can change colour / can’t identify prey

hampers predators olfactory abilities due to chemical elements

Alarm cue to others

what do some animals use to fight back

weaponry - horns

mobbing -gang up against predator

chemical deterrence - venom

why would a group living use warnings not hiding

Large group easier to spot so alarms are sounded