Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Predator-Prey Interactions

Predator-Prey Interactions

Predators consume prey for energy. Predators that acquire prey and prey that avoid predation both increase their chances of survival and reproduction (i.e., fitness). Routine predator-prey interactions elicit mutual adaptations that improve predator offenses, such as claws, teeth, and speed, as well as prey defenses, including crypsis, aposematism, and mimicry. Thus, predator-prey interactions resemble an evolutionary arms race.

Fixed Action Patterns

Fixed Action Patterns

A fixed action pattern (FAP) is a specific, hard-wired sequence of behaviors that occurs in response to an external stimulus, called a sign stimulus. The behavior is “fixed” because it is essentially unchangeable—proceeding similarly across individuals of a species every time it occurs.

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Morphometric Scale Shape Variation of the Invasive Red Lionfish, Pterois volitans.

Integrative and comparative biology·2026

Same author

Morphological Relationships of Pectoral and Dorsal Spines of Invasive Blue Catfish, Ictalurus furcatus, Over Ontogeny.

Integrative and comparative biology·2026

Same author

Acidic Apple Snails: Effects of Climate Change on the Mechanical Properties of an Invasive Gastropod.

Integrative and comparative biology·2024

Same author

Vertebral Trabecular Bone Mechanical Properties Vary Among Functional Groups of Cetaceans.

Integrative organismal biology (Oxford, England)·2022

Same author

Caudal Spine Morphology and Puncture Performance of Two Coastal Stingrays.

Integrative and comparative biology·2021

Same author

Body and Pectoral Fin Kinematics During Routine Yaw Turning in Bonnethead Sharks (<i>Sphyrna tiburo</i>).

Integrative organismal biology (Oxford, England)·2021

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Nov 10, 2025

A Fish-feeding Laboratory Bioassay to Assess the Antipredatory Activity of Secondary Metabolites from the Tissues of Marine Organisms

A Fish-feeding Laboratory Bioassay to Assess the Antipredatory Activity of Secondary Metabolites from the Tissues of Marine Organisms

Published on: January 11, 2015

Predator-Prey Interactions Examined Using Lionfish Spine Puncture Performance.

K A Galloway¹, M E Porter²

¹Biological Sciences, Nicholls State University, 906 E 1st St, Thibodaux, LA 70301, USA.

Integrative Organismal Biology (Oxford, England)

|April 1, 2021

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Lionfish spines are more effective at puncturing human skin than fish skin, suggesting potential for bioinspired puncture tools and protective materials. Spine puncture performance varies by region and target material.

More Related Videos

Characterization Of Multi-layered Fish Scales Atractosteus spatula Using Nanoindentation, X-ray CT, FTIR, and SEM

Characterization Of Multi-layered Fish Scales Atractosteus spatula Using Nanoindentation, X-ray CT, FTIR, and SEM

Published on: July 10, 2014

Assaying Predatory Feeding Behaviors in Pristionchus and Other Nematodes

Assaying Predatory Feeding Behaviors in Pristionchus and Other Nematodes

Published on: September 4, 2016

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Nov 10, 2025

A Fish-feeding Laboratory Bioassay to Assess the Antipredatory Activity of Secondary Metabolites from the Tissues of Marine Organisms

A Fish-feeding Laboratory Bioassay to Assess the Antipredatory Activity of Secondary Metabolites from the Tissues of Marine Organisms

Published on: January 11, 2015

Characterization Of Multi-layered Fish Scales Atractosteus spatula Using Nanoindentation, X-ray CT, FTIR, and SEM

Characterization Of Multi-layered Fish Scales Atractosteus spatula Using Nanoindentation, X-ray CT, FTIR, and SEM

Published on: July 10, 2014

Assaying Predatory Feeding Behaviors in Pristionchus and Other Nematodes

Assaying Predatory Feeding Behaviors in Pristionchus and Other Nematodes

Published on: September 4, 2016

Area of Science:

Biomechanics
Materials Science
Zoology

Background:

Predator-prey interactions offer insights into puncture mechanics.
Lionfish possess venomous spines used passively in defense.
Understanding spine puncture performance is key for bioinspired designs.

Purpose of the Study:

Quantify the puncture performance of red lionfish (Pterois volitans) spines.
Compare spine puncture effectiveness in potential predator skin (grouper, shark) and a human skin model (porcine).
Analyze spine damage and force requirements across different spine regions and target materials.

Main Methods:

Puncture trials using dorsal, anal, and pelvic lionfish spines.
Testing against black grouper and blacktip shark buccal skin, and porcine skin.
Assessment of spine macro-damage and force measurements post-puncture.

Main Results:

Lionfish spines punctured grouper skin more effectively (lower force, less damage) than shark skin.
Anal and dorsal spines sustained the most damage during fish skin puncture; pelvic spines did not.
Lionfish spines showed no damage when puncturing porcine skin, requiring similar forces across all spine regions.

Conclusions:

Lionfish spines may be more effective at puncturing human skin than that of their natural predators.
Puncture performance is dependent on the interplay between the tool (spine) and the target material (skin).
Lionfish spine puncture performance varies significantly by spine region and target tissue, offering design insights.