Abstract
Almost all prey live in habitats with predators with different hunting modes; however, most studies on predation have investigated the effects of only one predator at a time. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether qingbo (Spinibarbus sinensis), a common cyprinid fish, responds differently to active hunting and ambush predators and how qingbo responds when both types of predators coexist. Juvenile qingbo were subjected to catfish (Clarias fuscus, active hunter) exposure, snakehead fish (Channa argus, ambush hunter) exposure, or mixed predator exposure (catfish and snakehead coexistence) for a duration of 60 days. Then, their growth, behaviors, swimming performance, and metabolism were measured. Qingbo subjected to active hunting predator exposure exhibited decreased activity and predator inspection and improved fast-start escape performance compared to those in the control group. However, none of the parameters of the fish subjected to ambush predator exposure changed significantly. Fish subjected to mixed predator exposure exhibited improved fast-start escape performance but increased maintenance energy expenditure, whereas no changes were observed in any of the behavioral variables. Qingbo showed a stronger anti-predator response to active hunting predators than to ambush predators, suggesting that the fish exhibit a stronger anti-predator response to a current direct threat than to a potential threat (a predator exists nearby but seldom presents in attack behavior). Additionally, the response of prey fish to multiple predators was quite complex, and the coexistence and interaction of multiple predator species with different hunting modes may lead to serious stress responses and confound the prey’s behavioral responses to each predator.
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Data availability
The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author on request.
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Funding
This study was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC 31700340 and 31670418), Scientific and Technological Research Program of Chongqing Municipal Education Commission (KJ1600312), the Project of the Natural Science Foundation of Chongqing (cstc2017jcyjAX0474) and the Youth Top-notch Talent Support Program of Chongqing Normal University granted to Fu C.
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C.F., S.-J.F., and L.-C.Y. conceived and designed the experiments. C.F., L.-C.Y., W.-P.W., C.-X.S., and R.-N.L. performed the experiments. C.F. and S.-J.F. analyzed the data. C.F. and S.-J.F. wrote the pater. All authors approved the final manuscript.
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This experiment was approved by the Animal Care and Use Committee of the Key Laboratory of Animal Biology of Chongqing (permit number Zhao-20170616–01) and performed in strict accordance with the recommendations in the Guide for the Care and Use of Animals at the Key Laboratory of Animal Biology of Chongqing, China.
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10695_2021_988_MOESM1_ESM.docx
Fig. S1 A experimental tank was used for predator exposure (top view). Note: A is a wire mesh. B provides shelter for the qingbo (opaque PVC pipe; length 20 cm, diameter 10 cm); C is the bait fish not used for experimental determination. Different predators were maintained on the outside of the wire mesh depending on the group. Control group: no predator; catfish-exposed group: two catfish (Clarias fuscus); snakehead-exposed group: two snakehead fish (Channa argus); mixed-predator-exposed group (one catfish and one snakehead in each tank). (DOCX 110 KB)
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Fu, C., Yi, LC., Wu, WP. et al. Qingbo, a common cyprinid fish, responds diversely in behavior and locomotion to predators with different hunting modes. Fish Physiol Biochem 47, 1415–1427 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10695-021-00988-9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10695-021-00988-9