Predator-Prey Psychology Flashcards
What is aposematism?
Using warning colouration.
What is the benefit of aposematism?
Predators “learn” the link between signal and profitability resulting in lower mortality for aposematic prey.
What are the benefits of being conspicuous?
1) Improved predator education.
2) Advertises a visible defence.
3) Increased opportunities - no need to hide.
How do predator and prey both benefit from warning signals?
It leads to coevolution of conspicuousness and special psychological responses to conspicuousness.
What is unlearnt wariness?
An innate (evolved) behaviour that allows naïve predators to avoid unprofitability.
What is learnt avoidance?
The recognition, learning and memorising of unsuitable food sources.
What are some problems with conspicuous warning colouration evolving?
How to survive long enough to reproduce?
How to educate naïve predators?
Define neophobia, in a biological context.
Transitory avoidance of novel objects.
Define dietary conservatism (DC).
Very prolonged aversion to adding new foods to the diet.
What are some examples of predators that show no visual dietary wariness?
Spiders, mantids and ladybirds.
What can be concluded from predators showing no visual dietary wariness?
Their prey selection is based on cues other than colour.
