Prey-Foraging Patterns in a Complex Landscape of Fear

Prey antipredator defenses may weaken when a predator is cannibalistic or stressed, but it remains unclear which predator prey systems show this effect and how strongly it shapes trophic cascades. In our aquatic food chain (higher order predator, mesopredator, and mesopredator's prey), we found no defense suppression in mesopredators exposed to chemical cues signaling higher order predator cannibalism or stress; instead, their defensive responses increased, resulting in distinct and cue-specific hunting patterns with varied consequences for their prey. These results suggest that suppression is system-specific and highlight the value of network-based behavioral analysis for revealing subtle shifts in hunting behavior.