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Disturbed flow in an aquatic environment may create a sensory refuge for aggregated prey
Asa Johannesen1, Alison M Dunn2, Lesley J Morrell3
1Nesvik Marine Centre, Fiskaaling, Hvalvik, Faroe Islands; School of Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom.
Peerj
|April 4, 2017
Summary
Prey in disturbed water face lower predation risk from fish, as flow turbulence masks their scent. Larger prey groups can form in disturbed environments, but extreme turbulence may limit group size.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Behavioral Ecology
- Sensory Ecology
Background:
- Predators utilize olfactory cues to detect prey, influencing prey behavior and aggregation.
- Prey aggregations can increase detectability by predators, potentially limiting group size due to heightened predation risk.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how varying olfactory cue concentrations (representing prey group size) affect predation risk in disturbed versus non-disturbed flowing water.
- To determine the impact of flow disturbance on fish predator foraging efficiency and prey vulnerability.
Main Methods:
- Experimental manipulation of water flow to create disturbed (turbulent) and non-disturbed (less mixed) conditions.
- Varying concentrations of olfactory cues were used as a proxy for prey group size to assess predator responses.
Main Results:
- Increased olfactory cue concentration significantly elevated predation risk for prey.
- Disturbing the water flow demonstrably reduced predation risk.
- Fish predators could locate high cue concentrations in both disturbed and non-disturbed flows, but medium concentrations were only successfully located in non-disturbed flow.
Conclusions:
- Flow-disturbing elements can act as a sensory refuge, enabling prey to form larger aggregations.
- The degree of flow disturbance may impose a limit on the maximum sustainable size of prey groups.