Meeting Abstract
The quantity and quality of information during predator-prey interactions is influenced by a variety of environmental factors, as well as sensory and locomotory abilities of the pair. Previous studies focus on one predator within the environment, but prey face many attackers. Mottled sculpin are a native benthic fish similar to the invasive round goby. The goal here is to determine if one prey species has an advantage avoiding predators and if this advantage is light and/or predator dependent. The effects of predation and light level on prey behavior were examined using two piscivores, burbot and/or smallmouth bass in a crossed design (2 burbot, 2 bass, and 1 of each) which preyed on round gobies or mottled sculpin. Trials were performed under natural light intensities and wavelength of downwelling light. The probability of detection for each prey species for either predator was not significantly different. Only 7% of the detected gobies were captured and 72% of the captured gobies were retained. Comparatively, 23% of detected mottled sculpins were captured with 93% being retained. Almost double the number of mottled sculpin were consumed than round gobies within the same period. Both prey species alternate between fleeing or remaining immobile. Fleeing appears to benefit round gobies via reducing predator detection, but also helps avoid pursuing and attacking predators. Mottled sculpin often remain immobile, but initiate flight responses when predators are in close proximity which greatly increases the chances of detection, pursuits, and attacks. Few studies have tested prey reactions under multiple predatory conditions, and it appears that avoidance strategies differ between predators and have a considerable impact on survival probability.
