Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 18, 2025

A Real-Time Interactive System for Studying Confrontational Pursuit Behavior in Rodents
Published on: May 16, 2025
Predator discrimination of prey promotes the predator-mediated coexistence of prey species
Gen Iwashita1, Akira Yamawo2, Michio Kondoh1
1Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University Japan, Sendai 980-8577, Japan.
Abstract:
The predator discrimination of prey can affect predation intensity and the prey density dependence of predators, which has the potential to alter the coexistence of prey species. We used a predator-prey population dynamics model accounting for the predator's adaptive diet choice and predator discrimination of prey to investigate how the latter influences prey coexistence. The model revealed that (i) prey species that are perceived as belonging to the same species by a predator are attacked in the same manner, and it is more difficult for them to coexist than those that are recognized as different prey species, and (ii) prey species that are not discriminated by a predator-and therefore cannot coexist-may coexist in the presence of an alternative predator that does discriminate between them. These results suggest that prey diversity, which favours the predator discrimination of prey, and the different capabilities of predators to identify prey species both enhance prey coexistence.
Related Concept Videos
Predator-Prey Interactions
Competition
Frequency-dependent Selection
Symbiosis
Types of Selection
Hybrid Zones

