Meeting Abstract

 

40-7  Saturday, Jan. 5 09:30 – 09:45  The Coupled Strategies of Lionfish and Prey Fish PETERSON, AN*; MCHENRY, MJ; Univ. of California, Irvine anpeter1@uci.edu

During predation, the interplay of predator and prey behaviors determine the outcome of an interaction. These interactions are guided by the coupled strategies of both animals, which are difficult to determine through observation alone. To examine the relationships between predator and prey strategies, we used a combination of experiments and mathematical modeling of red lionfish (Pterois volitans) as they pursued green chromis (Chromis viridis). The lionfish used a pure pursuit strategy, where they attempted to maintain a zero bearing regardless of prey maneuvers. The green chromis were capable of swimming faster than the lionfish but generally exhibited avoidance swimming only when the lionfish moved within a close threshold distance. Kinematics of observed behaviors validated our computational model, which we used to evaluate the strategies of both predator and prey. This approach has the potential to offer a framework for understanding predator-prey interactions in a diversity of animals.