Mobility-limiting antipredator response in the rock-paper-scissors model

Area of Science:

• Ecology
• Behavioral Ecology
• Mathematical Biology

Background:

• Antipredator behavior is a crucial collective response in biological systems.
• This collective effort influences spatial patterns and ecosystem stability.
• The cost of participation, such as reduced mobility, is essential for collective antipredator strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate antipredator behavior in a nonhierarchical tritrophic system using rock-paper-scissors dynamics.
• To determine how the radius of antipredator response affects spatial patterns and species coexistence.
• To analyze the trade-offs between individual cost, collective benefit, and ecological outcomes.

Main Methods:

• Spatial stochastic simulations of a rock-paper-scissors predator-prey model.
• Modeling the radius of antipredator response as a determinant of prey group size and individual cost.
• Quantifying the impact of energy devoted to antipredator strategies on organism mobility.

Main Results:

• Antipredator responses generate spiral spatial patterns with species segregation.
• A less localized antipredator response increases single-species patch size, enhancing protection.
• Increased predation risk with localized responses is counterbalanced by mobility benefits, promoting coexistence.

Conclusions:

• Antipredator behavior significantly shapes spatial dynamics and species interactions.
• The localization of antipredator responses is a key factor in balancing protection and mobility.
• Understanding these mechanisms is vital for ecological stability in systems with localized interactions.