Description
Predator threats change prey behaviour and false alarms can cost foraging or mating. Predator inspection, when animals leave a group to approach potential threats, presumably informs to reduce this cost. Subject of landmark 1990s studies, this risky behaviour was a controversial example of cooperation since despite some evidence for fish spending more time near and closer to a predator and associating with simulated cooperators, original experiments had criticism for over-relying on qualitative measures and lacking controls, meaning the by-product mutualism alternative explanation to cooperation couldn’t be ruled out. With modern analytical approaches, it’s time to revisit this question, to solidify a basis to make progress on in answering it. Addressing criticisms, our ongoing conceptual replication has control conditions, automated position tracking software and move-by-move behaviour data within approaches. A 2*2 factorial design with 25 pairs of sticklebacks (Gasterosteus aculeatus) per condition had predator or plant refuge models that the partner was able or unable to see and approach with the subject. This is the next step to answer if fish cooperate to inspect predators.| Period | 15 Dec 2025 → 16 Dec 2025 |
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| Event title | ASAB Winter Meeting |
| Event type | Conference |
| Location | Edinburgh, United KingdomShow on map |