Multiple preferred escape trajectories are explained by a geometric model incorporating prey’s turn and predator attack endpoint
The escape trajectory (ET) of prey – measured as the angle relative to the predator’s approach path – plays a major role in avoiding predation. Previous geometric models predict a single ET; however, many species show highly variable ETs with multiple preferred directions. Although such a high ET va...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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eLife Sciences Publications Ltd
2023-02-01
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| Series: | eLife |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://elifesciences.org/articles/77699 |
| _version_ | 1797854823256686592 |
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| author | Yuuki Kawabata Hideyuki Akada Ken-ichiro Shimatani Gregory Naoki Nishihara Hibiki Kimura Nozomi Nishiumi Paolo Domenici |
| author_facet | Yuuki Kawabata Hideyuki Akada Ken-ichiro Shimatani Gregory Naoki Nishihara Hibiki Kimura Nozomi Nishiumi Paolo Domenici |
| author_sort | Yuuki Kawabata |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The escape trajectory (ET) of prey – measured as the angle relative to the predator’s approach path – plays a major role in avoiding predation. Previous geometric models predict a single ET; however, many species show highly variable ETs with multiple preferred directions. Although such a high ET variability may confer unpredictability to avoid predation, the reasons why animals prefer specific multiple ETs remain unclear. Here, we constructed a novel geometric model that incorporates the time required for prey to turn and the predator’s position at the end of its attack. The optimal ET was determined by maximizing the time difference of arrival at the edge of the safety zone between the prey and predator. By fitting the model to the experimental data of fish Pagrus major, we show that the model can clearly explain the observed multiple preferred ETs. By changing the parameters of the same model within a realistic range, we were able to produce various patterns of ETs empirically observed in other species (e.g., insects and frogs): a single preferred ET and multiple preferred ETs at small (20–50°) and large (150–180°) angles from the predator. Our results open new avenues of investigation for understanding how animals choose their ETs from behavioral and neurosensory perspectives. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-09T20:13:35Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-bde55f251723492fa602519fdaf089e9 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2050-084X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-09T20:13:35Z |
| publishDate | 2023-02-01 |
| publisher | eLife Sciences Publications Ltd |
| record_format | Article |
| series | eLife |
| spelling | doaj.art-bde55f251723492fa602519fdaf089e92023-03-31T15:34:11ZengeLife Sciences Publications LtdeLife2050-084X2023-02-011210.7554/eLife.77699Multiple preferred escape trajectories are explained by a geometric model incorporating prey’s turn and predator attack endpointYuuki Kawabata0https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8267-5199Hideyuki Akada1Ken-ichiro Shimatani2Gregory Naoki Nishihara3Hibiki Kimura4https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3710-2564Nozomi Nishiumi5Paolo Domenici6Graduate School of Fisheries and Environmental Sciences, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, JapanFaculty of Fisheries, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, JapanThe Institute of Statistical Mathematics, Tachikawa, JapanInstitute for East China Sea Research, Organization for Marine Science Technology, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, JapanGraduate School of Fisheries and Environmental Sciences, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, JapanGraduate School of Fisheries and Environmental Sciences, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan; National Institute for Basic Biology, Okazaki, JapanCNR-IAS, Località Sa Mardini, Oristano, Italy; CNR-IBF, Area di Ricerca San Cataldo, Pisa, ItalyThe escape trajectory (ET) of prey – measured as the angle relative to the predator’s approach path – plays a major role in avoiding predation. Previous geometric models predict a single ET; however, many species show highly variable ETs with multiple preferred directions. Although such a high ET variability may confer unpredictability to avoid predation, the reasons why animals prefer specific multiple ETs remain unclear. Here, we constructed a novel geometric model that incorporates the time required for prey to turn and the predator’s position at the end of its attack. The optimal ET was determined by maximizing the time difference of arrival at the edge of the safety zone between the prey and predator. By fitting the model to the experimental data of fish Pagrus major, we show that the model can clearly explain the observed multiple preferred ETs. By changing the parameters of the same model within a realistic range, we were able to produce various patterns of ETs empirically observed in other species (e.g., insects and frogs): a single preferred ET and multiple preferred ETs at small (20–50°) and large (150–180°) angles from the predator. Our results open new avenues of investigation for understanding how animals choose their ETs from behavioral and neurosensory perspectives.https://elifesciences.org/articles/77699escape directionescape responseescape turnmatching lawmathematical modelpredator evasion |
| spellingShingle | Yuuki Kawabata Hideyuki Akada Ken-ichiro Shimatani Gregory Naoki Nishihara Hibiki Kimura Nozomi Nishiumi Paolo Domenici Multiple preferred escape trajectories are explained by a geometric model incorporating prey’s turn and predator attack endpoint eLife escape direction escape response escape turn matching law mathematical model predator evasion |
| title | Multiple preferred escape trajectories are explained by a geometric model incorporating prey’s turn and predator attack endpoint |
| title_full | Multiple preferred escape trajectories are explained by a geometric model incorporating prey’s turn and predator attack endpoint |
| title_fullStr | Multiple preferred escape trajectories are explained by a geometric model incorporating prey’s turn and predator attack endpoint |
| title_full_unstemmed | Multiple preferred escape trajectories are explained by a geometric model incorporating prey’s turn and predator attack endpoint |
| title_short | Multiple preferred escape trajectories are explained by a geometric model incorporating prey’s turn and predator attack endpoint |
| title_sort | multiple preferred escape trajectories are explained by a geometric model incorporating prey s turn and predator attack endpoint |
| topic | escape direction escape response escape turn matching law mathematical model predator evasion |
| url | https://elifesciences.org/articles/77699 |
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