The trade-off between fleeing and tonic immobility behaviors in an ectothermic animal

摘要: When a prey is perceived and attacked, it may adopt direct anti-predator strategies, such as fleeing tonic immobility (TI). During this latter, individuals remain in motionless posture, which reduce chances of being preyed, but retain close distance to the predator. Alternatively, increases from threat, while enhancing predation by visually guided predators. Thus, there trade-off between these two opposite strategies. Here, we characterize balance behaviors Zabrotes subfasciatus, beetle that when stimulated displays binary responses: TI or running away. We investigated factors determine frequency, probability, duration. examined roles period day (3 AM, 9 AM, 3 PM, 9 PM), environmental temperature, sex, body size, consecutive stimuli (three successive). None influenced However, exhibition was higher at with no effects regarding sex stimulus. As temperature raises, probability increases. This paradoxical because ectothermic animals are expected present increased locomotive activity under temperatures due metabolic dependence. far know, first report positive relating TI, especially an animal. At hotter periods day, more active, Z. subfasciatus frequency higher. success based on lack movement, triggers killing predators, association increase survival against