Diverse strategies that animals use to deter intraspecific predation

Abstract

Intraspecific predation is a special case of prey-predator system that is taxonomically widespread. While a heterospecific predator's main goal is to achieve nutrition, intraspecific predation provides conspecifics with other benefits including elimination of competitors for resources and mates. Traditionally intraspecific predation is termed based on the context they occur within, for example egg cannibalism, infanticide and sexual cannibalism. These diverse forms of intraspecific predation and the strategies by which animals are known to deter them are summarized categorically in this review. The diversity of defence strategies animals deploy against conspecific predators is appreciable and raises interesting questions on their evolution for future research.

Fantastic beasts and how to study them: rethinking experimental animal behavior

“…For many social animals, socialization itself is a reward, and experiencing social contact with conspecifics is often critical to functional behaviors as an adult ( Nardou et al, 2019 ; Wang et al, 2022 ). In contrast, some animals would rather avoid or even eat same-sex conspecifics, as they represent competitors for food and mates ( Vijendravarma, 2023 ). Sophisticated behaviors can also emerge from individuals operating on relatively simple nearest-neighbor algorithms without an inherent social structure ( Bialek et al, 2012 ; Ding et al, 2019 ): at high density, locust swarms start migrating due to each individual avoiding being eaten by a conspecific ( Guttal et al, 2012 ), and some fireflies synchronize their pulses with the flashes from another ( Sarfati et al, 2023 ).…”

Evolution of multiple prey defences: From predator cognition to community ecology

“…Whilemoststudiesofanti-predatordefenceshavebeenfocusedon their effect on heterospecific predators, threats from conspecifics can pose a serious danger to individuals, thus natural selection is likelytoselectfordefencesthatreducethechanceofintraspecific predation. Vijendravarma(2022)summarizesthetypesofintraspecificpredationanddefencesagainstthem.Intraspecificpredationis classifiedbasedonwhichdevelopmentalstagesortaxa/individuals aresubjectedtopredation:eggs,juveniles,mammalianinfants,quiescentindividuals,adults,sexualpartners,mother(byheroffspring), or offspring (by their parents). Vijendravarma (2022) explains various anti-predator strategies against each intraspecific predation type and presents whether the intraspecific defences also deter interspecific predators.…”

“…Vijendravarma(2022)summarizesthetypesofintraspecificpredationanddefencesagainstthem.Intraspecificpredationis classifiedbasedonwhichdevelopmentalstagesortaxa/individuals aresubjectedtopredation:eggs,juveniles,mammalianinfants,quiescentindividuals,adults,sexualpartners,mother(byheroffspring), or offspring (by their parents). Vijendravarma (2022) explains various anti-predator strategies against each intraspecific predation type and presents whether the intraspecific defences also deter interspecific predators. This review highlights the differences and similarities between intraspecific and intraspecific predation and posesaquestionastowhetherthesamedefenceisusedforboth intra-andinter-specificpredation.…”