The bigger the better? Predation and prey size choice in a patchy environment. Issue 2 (4th March 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Vijayan, Sundararaj; Balaban-Feld, Jesse; Badichi, Shamir; Tamar Tov-Elem, Lotan; Kotler, Burt P.; Mitchell, William A.; Abramsky, Zvika
• Is Part Of: Ethology, ecology & evolution. Volume 34:Issue 2(2022)
• Page Start: 133
• Page End: 147
• Publication Date: 2022-03-04
• Subjects: prey -- body size -- patch -- foraging games -- goldfish -- little egret; Animal behavior -- Periodicals; Animal ecology -- Periodicals; Behavior evolution -- Periodicals; Behavior, Animal -- Periodicals; Ecology -- Periodicals; Biological Evolution -- Periodicals; Écologie animale -- Périodiques; Évolution du comportement -- Périodiques; Éthologie -- Périodiques; Animal behavior; Animal ecology; Behavior evolution; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 591.5
• DOI: 10.1080/03949370.2021.1913449
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0394-9370

Abstract

Abstract : Prey individuals vary in their body size even within groups and are often scattered heterogeneously in patchy environments. A foraging predator has to evaluate and select the patches where it can maximize its energetic gains. We studied the foraging behavior of a predator (little egret, Egretta garzetta ) hunting prey groups (goldfish, Carassius auratus ) that differed in body size and composition across three different patches (one large, one mixed, and one small). We quantified predator's stay time, return time and size-specific kills of the prey. The egret spent a similar amount of total time foraging in the three patches; however, it spent more time per-visit in pools containing large-bodied fish and also returned to those pools soonest after leaving to forage elsewhere, suggesting that the predators employ a time management strategy to maximize energetic returns. Furthermore, the egret preferentially killed larger individuals. Such size-selective predation can shift the prey size structure in the landscape and influence the dynamics of species interactions and eventually the structure of the communities.