2019 Fiscal Year Final Research Report
The effect of predator uncertainty on predation of mimetic prey
| Project/Area Number |
17K07565
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| Research Category |
Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
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| Allocation Type | Multi-year Fund |
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| Section | 一般 |
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| Research Field |
Ecology/Environment
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| Research Institution | Kyoto University |
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Principal Investigator |
Barnett Craig 京都大学, 理学研究科, 特定准教授 (40778411)
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| Project Period (FY) |
2017-04-01 – 2020-03-31
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| Keywords | Ecology / Evolution / Predation / Mimicry |
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| Outline of Final Research Achievements |
In this experiment, I examined the predator uncertainty hypothesis. Over three field seasons, I visited Wellington, New Zealand to collect data in order to test two predictions which were: (1) increases in variability in the defences of mimetic prey (caused by increases in mimic frequencies) does not increase predation in the prey system at low mimic frequencies and (2) birds will prefer to eat prey with less variable levels of defence. Overall, I found support for both predictions.
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| Free Research Field |
Ecology and Evolution
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| Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements |
This work is important as it indicates that the psychological characteristics of avian predators can impact their decisions to attack chemically defended prey. My results also uncovered a psychological aversion to variation in prey defences which may explain the widespread nature of mimicry.
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