Very short delays prior to escape from potential predators may function efficiently as adaptive risk-assessment periods

Cresswell, W, Butler, SJ ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5111-5639, Whittingham, MJ and Quinn, JL (2009) Very short delays prior to escape from potential predators may function efficiently as adaptive risk-assessment periods. Behaviour, 146 (6). pp. 795-813. ISSN 1568-539X

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Abstract

Periods between predator detection and an escape response (escape delays) by prey upon attack by a predator often arise because animals trade-off the benefits such a delay gives for assessing risk accurately with the costs of not escaping as quickly as possible. We tested whether freezing behaviour (complete immobility in a previously foraging bird) observed in chaffinches before escaping from an approaching potential threat functions as a period of risk-assessment, and whether information on predator identity is gained even when time available is very short. We flew either a model of a sparrowhawk (predator) or a woodpigeon (no threat) at single chaffinches. Escape delays were significantly shorter with the hawk, except when a model first appeared close to the chaffinch. Chaffinches were significantly more vigilant when they resumed feeding after exposure to the sparrowhawk compared to the woodpigeon showing that they were able to distinguish between threats, and this applied even when time available for assessment was short (an average of 0.29 s). Our results show freezing in chaffinches functions as an effective economic risk assessment period, and that threat information is gained even when very short periods of time are available during an attack.

Item Type:	Article
Faculty \ School:	Faculty of Science > School of Biological Sciences
UEA Research Groups:	Faculty of Science > Research Centres > Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Conservation Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Organisms and the Environment
Depositing User:	Simon Butler
Date Deposited:	09 Jan 2012 11:42
Last Modified:	16 May 2023 00:12
URI:	https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/35063
DOI:	10.1163/156853909X446217

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