Nonconsumptive Effects of Predation and Impaired Chemosensory Risk Assessment on an Aquatic Prey Species
Weak levels of acidity impair chemosensory risk assessment by aquatic species which may result in increased predator mortalities in the absence of compensatory avoidance mechanisms. Using replicate populations of wild juvenile Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) in neutral and acidic streams, we conducted...
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fthindawi:oai:hindawi.com:10.1155/2015/894579 2023-05-15T15:32:23+02:00 Nonconsumptive Effects of Predation and Impaired Chemosensory Risk Assessment on an Aquatic Prey Species Chris K. Elvidge Grant E. Brown 2015 https://doi.org/10.1155/2015/894579 en eng International Journal of Ecology https://doi.org/10.1155/2015/894579 Copyright © 2015 Chris K. Elvidge and Grant E. Brown. Research Article 2015 fthindawi https://doi.org/10.1155/2015/894579 2019-05-26T04:38:00Z Weak levels of acidity impair chemosensory risk assessment by aquatic species which may result in increased predator mortalities in the absence of compensatory avoidance mechanisms. Using replicate populations of wild juvenile Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) in neutral and acidic streams, we conducted a series of observational studies and experiments to identify differences in behaviours that may compensate for the loss of chemosensory information on predation risk. Comparing the behavioural strategies of fish between neutral and acidic streams may elucidate the influence of environmental degradation on nonconsumptive effects (NCEs) of predation. Salmon in acidic streams are more active during the day than their counterparts in neutral streams, and are more likely to avoid occupying territories offering fewer physical refugia from predators. Captive cross-population transplant experiments indicate that at equal densities, salmon in acidic streams do not demonstrate relative decreases in growth rate as a result of their different behavioural strategies. Instead, altering diel activity patterns to maximize visual information use and occupying relatively safer territories appear sufficient to offset increased predation risk in acidic streams. Additional strategies such as elevated foraging rates during active periods or adopting riskier foraging tactics are necessary to account for the observed similarities in growth rates. Article in Journal/Newspaper Atlantic salmon Salmo salar Hindawi Publishing Corporation International Journal of Ecology 2015 1 9 |
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Open Polar |
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Hindawi Publishing Corporation |
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fthindawi |
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English |
description |
Weak levels of acidity impair chemosensory risk assessment by aquatic species which may result in increased predator mortalities in the absence of compensatory avoidance mechanisms. Using replicate populations of wild juvenile Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) in neutral and acidic streams, we conducted a series of observational studies and experiments to identify differences in behaviours that may compensate for the loss of chemosensory information on predation risk. Comparing the behavioural strategies of fish between neutral and acidic streams may elucidate the influence of environmental degradation on nonconsumptive effects (NCEs) of predation. Salmon in acidic streams are more active during the day than their counterparts in neutral streams, and are more likely to avoid occupying territories offering fewer physical refugia from predators. Captive cross-population transplant experiments indicate that at equal densities, salmon in acidic streams do not demonstrate relative decreases in growth rate as a result of their different behavioural strategies. Instead, altering diel activity patterns to maximize visual information use and occupying relatively safer territories appear sufficient to offset increased predation risk in acidic streams. Additional strategies such as elevated foraging rates during active periods or adopting riskier foraging tactics are necessary to account for the observed similarities in growth rates. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Chris K. Elvidge Grant E. Brown |
spellingShingle |
Chris K. Elvidge Grant E. Brown Nonconsumptive Effects of Predation and Impaired Chemosensory Risk Assessment on an Aquatic Prey Species |
author_facet |
Chris K. Elvidge Grant E. Brown |
author_sort |
Chris K. Elvidge |
title |
Nonconsumptive Effects of Predation and Impaired Chemosensory Risk Assessment on an Aquatic Prey Species |
title_short |
Nonconsumptive Effects of Predation and Impaired Chemosensory Risk Assessment on an Aquatic Prey Species |
title_full |
Nonconsumptive Effects of Predation and Impaired Chemosensory Risk Assessment on an Aquatic Prey Species |
title_fullStr |
Nonconsumptive Effects of Predation and Impaired Chemosensory Risk Assessment on an Aquatic Prey Species |
title_full_unstemmed |
Nonconsumptive Effects of Predation and Impaired Chemosensory Risk Assessment on an Aquatic Prey Species |
title_sort |
nonconsumptive effects of predation and impaired chemosensory risk assessment on an aquatic prey species |
publisher |
International Journal of Ecology |
publishDate |
2015 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1155/2015/894579 |
genre |
Atlantic salmon Salmo salar |
genre_facet |
Atlantic salmon Salmo salar |
op_relation |
https://doi.org/10.1155/2015/894579 |
op_rights |
Copyright © 2015 Chris K. Elvidge and Grant E. Brown. |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1155/2015/894579 |
container_title |
International Journal of Ecology |
container_volume |
2015 |
container_start_page |
1 |
op_container_end_page |
9 |
_version_ |
1766362887748583424 |