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Intro 10.1
The goal of self-defense is not to be eaten.
Defense against predators has 3 elements
1. Avoiding detection- either using techniques like camouflage or just simply hiding
2. Evading capture- If you are detected by a predator, you must take some sort of action to avoid capture
3. Fighting back- If all other techniques against predators fail, be prepared to fight back
Cryptic behavior: Camouflage 10.2
Crypis/cryptic behavior is anything, including color, shape, or behavior, that makes an animal difficult to detect
Camouflage is any color or shape that helps to hide an animal visually from predators.
Camouflage can act in several ways, the most common are countershading, background matching, and disruptive colorations.
Countershading: This is when the gradation of color of an animal is used to mimic the gradation of light, like in penguins
Background matching: When animals evolve to have the same colors, their environment.
Disruptive coloration: When patterning that obscures an animal's shape, like zebras
Vigilance and Alarm 10.3
Vigilant behavior is best studied in groups.
An alarm can be raised on any of the ways you communicate, sight, sound, and even smell.
The existence of a group can minimize the risk to all individuals within the group
Mimicry and diversion 10.4
Mimicry occurs when one species evolves to look, sound, smell, or even act like another species
Batesian Mimicry is a behavior in which a prey looks like or behaves like an unpalatable species.
Mullerian Mimicry is when a noxious, unpalatable prey mimics other noxious, unpalatable prey, thus increasing the negative experience a predator is likely to have with this organism.
Diversion is an extension of mimicry where animals don't look like other animals but look like products - EX: droppings, twigs, or leaves
Evasion 10.5
When a prey is caught, two major strategies remain: Flee and Fight
Fleeing is very simple, although some strategies still remain
Animals try to distract rather than flee or hide, using startle behavior to make sudden movements or sounds to distract a predator
Some animals use “Flash Behavior,” which mixes confusion with fleeing. The animal flees (usually in a zig-zag fashion), then suddenly stops.
Animals also use displays like stotting, in which they advertise their readiness to race a predator. This acts as a warning sign: “Catch me if you can!”
Predator deterrence and fighting back 10.6
The second major strategy, left when you’ve attracted attention from a predator, is to fight back.
Fighting comes in many forms, ranging from combat, chemical defenses, physical defenses, and simply bad taste
Physical Deterrence, such as spines, teeth, large size (or mimicking large size with fur and posture), and other features, keeps predators at bay
Non-physical deterrence also exists, such as Venom, stings, and bites are used to harm predators when fighting
Even group defense occurs, this is called mobbing, in which individuals in a group harass a predator to drive it away.
Pathogen Avoidance / Deterrence 10.7
Animals exhibit avoidance and deterrence behaviors not only in response to predators but also in relation to parasites and pathogens, with host behavioral responses playing a crucial role in survival when infected or parasitized.