Chemical Predator Inspection in a Characin Fish (Hemigrammus erythrozonus, Characidae, Ostariophysi): The Effects of Mixed Predator Diets

摘要: Many prey organisms will approach (inspect) potential predators, primarily to assess local risk of predation. It has been demonstrated that Ostariphysan fishes can detect conspecific alarm pheromones in the diet predators and use this chemical information reduce their predation while still gaining significant benefits associated with predator inspection. We conducted current study examine possible effects mixed diets on these cues during inspection visits. Shoals four glowlight tetras (Hemigrammus erythrozonus) were exposed Jack Dempsey cichlids (Cichlasoma octofaciatum) which had fed consisting of: 100% (with pheromone); 75% tetra, 25% swordtail (Xiphophorus helleri, lack a recognizable swordtail; or swordtails. Tetras significantly increased anti-predator behaviour response tetra two diets, but not when diet. Likewise, we observed differences behaviour. took longer initiate an inspection, inspected smaller groups directed greater proportion visits towards tail region it either diets. found no among three treatments containing tetras. These data strongly suggest are capable detecting relatively small amounts pheromone they modify based presence absence cues.