Social learning within and across predator species reduces attacks on novel aposematic prey.

ABSTRACT: To make adaptive foraging decisions, predators need to gather information about the profitability of prey. As well as learning from prey encounters, recent studies show that predators can learn about prey defences by observing the negative foraging experiences of conspecifics. However, predator communities are complex. While observing heterospecifics may increase learning opportunities, we know little about how social information use varies across predator species. Social transmission of avoidance among predators also has potential consequences for defended prey. Conspicuous aposematic prey are assumed to be an easy target for naïve predators, but this cost may be reduced if multiple predators learn by observing single predation events. Heterospecific information use by predators might fur

SUBMITTER: Hamalainen L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7317195 | biostudies-literature | 2020 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature