Evolutionarily stable defence and signalling of that defence

Journal of Theoretical Biology
Mark BroomGraeme D Ruxton

Abstract

We examine the evolution and maintenance of defence and conspicuousness in prey species using a game theoretic model. In contrast to previous works, predators can raise as well as lower their attack probabilities as a consequence of encountering moderately defended prey. Our model predicts four distinct possibilities for evolutionarily stable strategies (ESSs) featuring maximum crypsis. Namely that such a solution can exist with (1) zero toxicity, (2) a non-zero but non-aversive level of toxicity, (3) a high, aversive level of toxicity or (4) that no such maximally cryptic solution exists. Maximally cryptic prey may still invest in toxins, because of the increased chance of surviving an attack (should they be discovered) that comes from having toxins. The toxin load of maximally cryptic prey may be sufficiently strong that the predators will find them aversive, and seek to avoid similar looking prey in future. However, this aversiveness does not always necessarily trigger aposematic signalling, and highly toxic prey can still be maximally cryptic, because the increased initial rate of attack from becoming more conspicuous is not necessarily always compensated for by increased avoidance of aversive prey by predators. In other ci...Continue Reading

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Citations

Sep 17, 2013·Journal of Theoretical Biology·Jan TeichmannEduardo Alonso
Dec 13, 2006·Journal of Theoretical Biology·Sami Merilaita, Graeme D Ruxton
Mar 14, 2007·Evolution; International Journal of Organic Evolution·Michael P Speed, Graeme D Ruxton
Aug 30, 2008·Evolution; International Journal of Organic Evolution·Graeme D RuxtonOlof Leimar
Sep 10, 2010·Journal of Evolutionary Biology·L Lettieri, J T Streelman

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