Abstract. Gregarious behavior of potential prey was explained by Hamilton (1971) on the basis of risk-sharing: The probability of being picked up by a predator is small when one makes part of a large aggregate of prey. This argument holds only if the predator chooses its victims at random. It is not the case for herds of evasive prey in the open, where prey’s gregarious behavior, favorable for the fast group members, makes it easier for the predator to home in on the slowest ones. We show conditions under which gregarious behavior of the relatively fast prey individuals leaves slowest prey with no other choice but to join the group. Failing to do so would signal their vulnerability, making them a preferred target for the predator. Analysis of an n+1 player game of a predator and n unequal prey individuals clarifies conditions for fully gregarious, partially gregarious, or solitary behavior of the prey.
Gregarious behavior of evasive prey / I., Eshel; Sansone, Emilia; A., Shaked. - In: JOURNAL OF MATHEMATICAL BIOLOGY. - ISSN 0303-6812. - STAMPA. - 52:(2006), pp. 595-612.
Gregarious behavior of evasive prey
SANSONE, EMILIA;
2006
Abstract
Abstract. Gregarious behavior of potential prey was explained by Hamilton (1971) on the basis of risk-sharing: The probability of being picked up by a predator is small when one makes part of a large aggregate of prey. This argument holds only if the predator chooses its victims at random. It is not the case for herds of evasive prey in the open, where prey’s gregarious behavior, favorable for the fast group members, makes it easier for the predator to home in on the slowest ones. We show conditions under which gregarious behavior of the relatively fast prey individuals leaves slowest prey with no other choice but to join the group. Failing to do so would signal their vulnerability, making them a preferred target for the predator. Analysis of an n+1 player game of a predator and n unequal prey individuals clarifies conditions for fully gregarious, partially gregarious, or solitary behavior of the prey.File | Dimensione | Formato | |
---|---|---|---|
GregbehSansone.pdf
non disponibili
Tipologia:
Documento in Post-print
Licenza:
Accesso privato/ristretto
Dimensione
157.77 kB
Formato
Adobe PDF
|
157.77 kB | Adobe PDF | Visualizza/Apri Richiedi una copia |
I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.