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How do predators cope with chemically defended foods?
1Department of Biological Sciences, Barnard College, Columbia University, 3009 Broadway, New York, New York 10027, USA. jglendinning@barnard.edu
The Biological Bulletin
|December 18, 2007
Summary
Predators use chemosensory detection to cope with defensive chemicals in prey. However, they have mixed success overcoming these defenses, sometimes rejecting safe prey or eating toxic prey.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Evolutionary Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Prey species utilize chemical defenses to deter predators, making their tissues noxious or toxic.
- Predators must develop strategies to detect, avoid, or tolerate these chemical defenses to consume prey.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore how predators cope with chemical defenses in their diet.
- To review predator chemosensory mechanisms for detecting defensive chemicals.
- To examine the effectiveness of predator strategies against prey chemical defenses.
Main Methods:
- Review of chemosensory mechanisms in predators for detecting defensive chemicals.
- Analysis of predator avoidance and tolerance strategies for chemical defenses.
- Evaluation of the success rate of free-ranging predators in overcoming prey chemical defenses.
Main Results:
- Predators possess chemosensory mechanisms to detect defensive chemicals in prey.
- Predators employ diverse strategies including avoidance and tolerance to manage chemical defenses.
- Evidence shows predators have variable success, sometimes rejecting palatable prey or consuming toxic prey.
Conclusions:
- Predator success in overcoming prey chemical defenses is inconsistent.
- Predator-prey chemical interactions involve complex sensory and behavioral adaptations.
- Further research is needed to fully understand the dynamics of chemical defense efficacy.
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