Lévy Walks Suboptimal under Predation Risk

Abe, Masato S.; Shimada, Muneaki

doi:10.1371/journal.pcbi.1004601

Cited by 16 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 56 publications

(92 reference statements)

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“…To conclude, biological details are essential when we evaluate the random search strategies of animals. Types of targets (9,26,51) and searching conditions (8) strongly affect the search efficiency and the resulting fitness. Comparative experiments across conditions as well as across species will offer an ideal opportunity to understand how animals search for uncertain targets in complex environments.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…When searching for targets with little or no locational information, animals adopt random walks (5, 6). A number of theoretical studies have collectively revealed that the optimal movement patterns for random walks depend on the searching conditions, including density, distribution and movement of targets (3,4,(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18). Therefore, the detailed conditions must be specified to accurately evaluate the efficiency of movements observed in animals (4,19).…”

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Adaptive switch to sexually dimorphic movements by partner-seeking termites

Mizumoto

Dobata

2018

Preprint

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When searching for targets whose location is not known, animals should benefit by adopting movement patterns that promote random encounters. During mate search, theory predicts that the optimal search pattern depends on the expected distance to potential partners. A key question is whether actual males and females update their mate search patterns to increase encounter probability when conditions change. Here we show that two termite species, Reticulitermes speratus and Coptotermes formosanus, adaptively alternate between sexually monomorphic and dimorphic movements during mate search. After leaving their nests in a synchronized manner, termites begin to search for a mate. The resulting pairs perform tandem runs toward potential nest sites. We found that both sexes moved faster and in straight lines before finding partners, which is known to improve encounter rates when targets have completely unpredictable positions. In stark contrast, when pairs were accidentally separated during tandem running, they showed distinct sexually dimorphic movements, where females paused for long periods while males paused only briefly and moved actively. Data-based simulations demonstrated that such sexually dimorphic movements are advantageous when a mate is located nearby but its exact location is unknown. These results emphasize the importance of biological details to evaluate the efficiency of random search in animals. By extending the concept of mutual search beyond the context of mating, the dimorphic movements between partners represent a remarkable convergence between termites and other animals including humans. Significance StatementHow should females and males move to search for partners whose exact location is unknown? Theory predicts that the answer depends on what they know about where targets can be found, indicating that the question doesn't make sense until the searching context is clarified. We demonstrated that termites adaptively switch their search All rights reserved. No reuse allowed without permission.(which was not peer-reviewed) is the author/funder, who has granted bioRxiv a license to display the preprint in perpetuity.The copyright holder for this preprint . http://dx.doi.org/10.1101/340919 doi: bioRxiv preprint first posted online Jun. 8, 2018; 2 modes depending on the potential distance to their partners. When the location of potential mates was completely unpredictable, both sexes moved in straight lines to explore widely. In contrast, when the stray partner was at least nearby, males moved while females paused. Simulations confirmed that these movements increase the rate of successful encounters. The context-dependent switch of search modes is a key to enhance random encounters in animals. IntroductionMoving for survival and reproduction is nearly a defining characteristic of animals (1, 2). Their movement patterns to find targets depend on the availability of sensory information and/or memories about targets (3, 4). When searching for targets with little or no locational information, animal...

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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confidence: 99%

Adaptive switch to sexually dimorphic movements by partner-seeking termites

Mizumoto

Dobata

2018

Preprint

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“…In order to understand the social, biological and physical mechanisms behind these processes, it is essential to have empirical evidence of the performance of different strategies and how they are affected by environmental cues, regardless of whether they are employed by humans, animals or bacteria [17]. Such data are also required to verify the mathematical models that have been proposed [18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25], and to develop improved protocols.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Online games: a novel approach to explore how partial information influences human random searches

Martínez-García

Calabrese

López

2017

Sci Rep

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Many natural processes rely on optimizing the success ratio of a search process. We use an experimental setup consisting of a simple online game in which players have to find a target hidden on a board, to investigate how the rounds are influenced by the detection of cues. We focus on the search duration and the statistics of the trajectories traced on the board. The experimental data are explained by a family of random-walk-based models and probabilistic analytical approximations. If no initial information is given to the players, the search is optimized for cues that cover an intermediate spatial scale. In addition, initial information about the extension of the cues results, in general, in faster searches. Finally, strategies used by informed players turn into non-stationary processes in which the length of e ach displacement evolves to show a well-defined characteristic scale that is not found in non-informed searches.

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“…In this study, we focused on the prey-239 predator interactions once they encounter each other. This scenario occurs in relatively shorter 240 time and smaller spatial scales than the scenario in which a predator moves in search for prey 241 moving in the environment [36,37]. Our results suggest a novel advantage of Lévy walks in the 242 context of avoiding a predator's attacks.…”

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confidence: 81%

Optimal Random Avoidance Strategy in Prey-Predator Interactions

Abe

Kasada

2020

Preprint

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16It has recently been reported that individual animals, ranging from insects to birds and mammals, 17 exhibit a special class of random walks, known as Lévy walks, which can lead to higher search 18 efficiency than normal random walks. However, the role of randomness or unpredictability in 19 animal movements is not very well understood. In the present study, we used a theoretical 20 framework to explore the advantage of Lévy walks in terms of avoidance behaviour in prey-21 predator interactions and analysed the conditions for maximising the prey's survival rate. We 22 showed that there is a trade-off relationship between the predictability of the prey's movement 23 and the length of time of exposure to predation risk, suggesting that it is difficult for prey to 24 decrease both parameters in order to survive. Then, we demonstrated that the optimal degree of 25 randomness in avoidance behaviour could change depending on the predator's ability. In 26 particular, Lévy walks resulted in higher survival rates than normal random walks and straight 27 movements when the physical ability of the predators was high. This indicates that the advantage 28 of Lévy walks may also be present in random avoidance behaviour and provides new insights into 29 why Lévy walks can evolve in terms of randomness. 30 31 Keywords: Lévy walks, avoidance behaviour, prey-predator interactions, movement ecology 32 33 34 35 36

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Lévy Walks Suboptimal under Predation Risk

Cited by 16 publications

References 56 publications

Adaptive switch to sexually dimorphic movements by partner-seeking termites

Adaptive switch to sexually dimorphic movements by partner-seeking termites

Online games: a novel approach to explore how partial information influences human random searches

Optimal Random Avoidance Strategy in Prey-Predator Interactions

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