Costly defense in a fluctuating environment-sensitivity of annual Nothobranchius fishes to predator kairomones

摘要: Antipredator strategies increase the chances of survival prey species but are subject to trade-offs and always come at a cost, one specific category being "missed opportunity." Some animals that can modulate timing life-cycle events also desynchronize this with occurrence predator. In an unpredictable environment, such modification may result in mismatch prevailing conditions, consequently leading reproductive failure. eastern Africa, temporary pools existing only during rainy season inhabited by annual fish genus Nothobranchius. We examined (i) capability multiple Nothobranchius populations cease hatching when exposed chemical cues from native predators adult conspecifics (ii) ability N. furzeri their growth rate presence gape-limited As tested spp. originate regions extreme environmental fluctuations where cost missed opportunity be serious, we predicted inability as well lack acceleration both predator's gape limitation environment select for same adaptation. Our results showed no biologically relevant influence kairomone on rate. This suggests that, costs substantial enough prevent evolution some antipredator defense strategies.