Behavior of Cape fur seals (<i>Arctocephalus pusillus pusillus</i>) in response to spatial variation in white shark (<i>Carcharodon carcharias</i>) predation risk

Vos, Alta De; O’Riain, M. Justin; Meÿer, Michael A.; Kotze, P. G. H.; Kock, Alison A.

doi:10.1111/mms.12215

Cited by 18 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 40 publications

(93 reference statements)

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“…Corroborating these data is behavioral information previously gathered from Cape fur seals using acoustic telemetry in False Bay (De Vos et al. , b). For example, seals engaged in safer behaviors, such as swimming in larger groups and avoiding deeper water, during the high predation season and not during the low predation season (De Vos et al.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For example, seals engaged in safer behaviors, such as swimming in larger groups and avoiding deeper water, during the high predation season and not during the low predation season (De Vos et al. , b).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…, De Vos et al. ). There are also “low shark abundance” seal colonies within the region that are not targeted by sharks at any time of year (Bonfil et al.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…, De Vos et al. ). These spatiotemporal patterns of white shark abundance have also been found through region‐wide survey data of white sharks through standardized boat‐based baited surveys as part of a project to estimate population sizes of white sharks in South Africa (Andreotti , Andreotti et al.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Here, the population of Cape fur seals in the region is segregated into discrete colonies that inhabit different inshore islands; but the seals from the different island colonies move offshore to feed where they share the same general foraging grounds (Rand 1959, 1967, Oosthuizen 1991. White sharks only actively target certain seal colonies, creating a natural spatial variation in seal colonies to threat of attack (Bonfil et al 2005, Dudley 2012, De Vos et al 2015a, Andreotti et al 2016. At these locations, there also exists clear seasonal variation in predation risk, as sharks only actively hunt Cape fur A D B C FIG.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Physiological stress responses to natural variation in predation risk: evidence from white sharks and seals

Hammerschlag

Meÿer²,

Seakamela³

et al. 2017

Ecology

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Predators can impact ecosystems through consumptive or risk effects on prey. Physiologically, risk effects can be mediated by energetic mechanisms or stress responses. The predation-stress hypothesis predicts that risk induces stress in prey, which can affect survival and reproduction. However, empirical support for this hypothesis is both mixed and limited, and the conditions that cause predation risk to induce stress responses in some cases, but not others, remain unclear. Unusually clear-cut variation in exposure of Cape fur seals (Arctocephalus pusillus pusillus) to predation risk from white sharks (Carcharodon carcharias) in the waters of Southwestern Africa provides an opportunity to test the predation-stress hypothesis in the wild. Here, we measured fecal glucocorticoid concentrations (fGCM) from Cape fur seals at six discrete islands colonies exposed to spatiotemporal variation in predation risk from white sharks over a period of three years. We found highly elevated fGCM concentrations in seals at colonies exposed to high levels of unpredictable and relatively uncontrollable risk of shark attack, but not at colonies where seals were either not exposed to shark predation or could proactively mitigate their risk through antipredatory behavior. Differences in measured fGCM levels were consistent with patterns of risk at the site and seasonal level, for both seal adults and juveniles. Seal fGCM levels were not correlated with colony population size, density, and geographic location. Investigation at a high risk site (False Bay) also revealed strong correlations between fGCM levels and temporal variation in shark attack rates, but not with shark relative abundance. Our results suggest that predation risk will induce a stress response when risk cannot be predicted and/or proactively mitigated by behavioral responses.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…, De Vos et al. ). There are also “low shark abundance” seal colonies within the region that are not targeted by sharks at any time of year (Bonfil et al.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Physiological stress responses to natural variation in predation risk: evidence from white sharks and seals

Hammerschlag

Meÿer²,

Seakamela³

et al. 2017

Ecology

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Behavioral responses to spatial variation in perceived predation risk and resource availability in an arboreal primate

2022

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Prey species must often face a trade-off between acquiring resources and minimizing predation risk. The spatial variation in predation risk across a landscape, as perceived by prey across their foraging or home range, creates a "landscape of fear" by which individuals modify their behavior in response to the level of perceived risk. Here, we explored the influence of perceived predation risk, habitat features associated with risk, and fruit availability, on the spatial variation in behavior of the endangered forest-dwelling samango monkey (Cercopithecus albogularis schwarzi). We collected behavioral and location data on two habituated samango monkey groups in the Soutpansberg Mountains, South Africa, between 2012 and 2016. We further collected location data of the samango monkey's acoustically distinct alarm call, which has an unambiguous association with aerial predators, to spatially map perceived risk across the landscape. Using generalized linear mixed models, we found that perceived risk from eagles significantly influenced the spatial distribution of critical life-functioning behaviors, with samango monkeys increasing feeding and foraging in high-risk areas. To mitigate this risk, samangos increased cohesion between group members, which subsequently reduced vigilance levels. Group cohesion further increased in high-risk areas with abundant fruit, relative to high-risk, fruit-poor areas, demonstrating the monkey's foraging/risk trade-off. Feeding was also reduced in areas of low canopy height, while vigilance decreased with increasing understory visibility and distance from sleep site, showing the influence of landscape features on risk perception from other predator guilds. Thus, for arboreal species foraging in a 3-D landscape, risk perception may occur at multiple scales and in response to multiple predator guilds. Only moving was influenced by fruit availability, either due to moving between localized food patches or from escaping high-risk areas following feeding bouts. These findings highlight that risk-taking in samango monkeys is only associated with behaviors fundamental to survival at a given

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Predator/Prey Decisions and the Ecology of Fear

Srinivasan

2019

Ethology and Behavioral Ecology of Odontocetes

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Behavior of Cape fur seals (Arctocephalus pusillus pusillus) in response to spatial variation in white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) predation risk

Cited by 18 publications

References 40 publications

Physiological stress responses to natural variation in predation risk: evidence from white sharks and seals

Physiological stress responses to natural variation in predation risk: evidence from white sharks and seals

Behavioral responses to spatial variation in perceived predation risk and resource availability in an arboreal primate

Predator/Prey Decisions and the Ecology of Fear

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