Abstract
Empirical studies of predator and prey behavior need to consider that: behaviors arise from a dynamic interaction between predators and prey operating over varying spatial and temporal scales; there are a wide range of alternative, condition-dependent behaviors that can be used; there are two different levels of behavior (avoidance or encounter, and capture or escape) that require different approaches; there are ethical problems of experimenting with predation systems. Therefore empirical studies of predator and prey behavior are often field-based observational studies of more complete natural systems, involving measurements of starvation-predation risk trade-offs, targeted field-experiments and statistical methods to measure biologically significant effects and to infer causation.
Original language | English |
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Title of host publication | The Encyclopedia of Animal Behaviour |
Editors | M.D. Breed, J. Moore |
Publisher | Elsevier |
Pages | 633-638 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Publication status | Published - 2010 |