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Energetics and evasion dynamics of large predators and prey: pumas vs. hounds
Quantification of fine-scale movement, performance, and energetics of hunting by large carnivores is critical for understanding the physiological underpinnings of trophic interactions. This is particularly challenging for wide-ranging terrestrial canid and felid predators, which can each affect ecos...
Autores principales: | , , |
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Formato: | Online Artículo Texto |
Lenguaje: | English |
Publicado: |
PeerJ Inc.
2017
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Materias: | |
Acceso en línea: | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5563439/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28828280 http://dx.doi.org/10.7717/peerj.3701 |
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author | Bryce, Caleb M. Wilmers, Christopher C. Williams, Terrie M. |
author_facet | Bryce, Caleb M. Wilmers, Christopher C. Williams, Terrie M. |
author_sort | Bryce, Caleb M. |
collection | PubMed |
description | Quantification of fine-scale movement, performance, and energetics of hunting by large carnivores is critical for understanding the physiological underpinnings of trophic interactions. This is particularly challenging for wide-ranging terrestrial canid and felid predators, which can each affect ecosystem structure through distinct hunting modes. To compare free-ranging pursuit and escape performance from group-hunting and solitary predators in unprecedented detail, we calibrated and deployed accelerometer-GPS collars during predator-prey chase sequences using packs of hound dogs (Canis lupus familiaris, 26 kg, n = 4–5 per chase) pursuing simultaneously instrumented solitary pumas (Puma concolor, 60 kg, n = 2). We then reconstructed chase paths, speed and turning angle profiles, and energy demands for hounds and pumas to examine performance and physiological constraints associated with cursorial and cryptic hunting modes, respectively. Interaction dynamics revealed how pumas successfully utilized terrain (e.g., fleeing up steep, wooded hillsides) as well as evasive maneuvers (e.g., jumping into trees, running in figure-8 patterns) to increase their escape distance from the overall faster hounds (avg. 2.3× faster). These adaptive strategies were essential to evasion in light of the mean 1.6× higher mass-specific energetic costs of the chase for pumas compared to hounds (mean: 0.76 vs. 1.29 kJ kg(−1) min(−1), respectively). On an instantaneous basis, escapes were more costly for pumas, requiring exercise at ≥90% of predicted [Image: see text] and consuming as much energy per minute as approximately 5 min of active hunting. Our results demonstrate the marked investment of energy for evasion by a large, solitary carnivore and the advantage of dynamic maneuvers to postpone being overtaken by group-hunting canids. |
format | Online Article Text |
id | pubmed-5563439 |
institution | National Center for Biotechnology Information |
language | English |
publishDate | 2017 |
publisher | PeerJ Inc. |
record_format | MEDLINE/PubMed |
spelling | pubmed-55634392017-08-21 Energetics and evasion dynamics of large predators and prey: pumas vs. hounds Bryce, Caleb M. Wilmers, Christopher C. Williams, Terrie M. PeerJ Animal Behavior Quantification of fine-scale movement, performance, and energetics of hunting by large carnivores is critical for understanding the physiological underpinnings of trophic interactions. This is particularly challenging for wide-ranging terrestrial canid and felid predators, which can each affect ecosystem structure through distinct hunting modes. To compare free-ranging pursuit and escape performance from group-hunting and solitary predators in unprecedented detail, we calibrated and deployed accelerometer-GPS collars during predator-prey chase sequences using packs of hound dogs (Canis lupus familiaris, 26 kg, n = 4–5 per chase) pursuing simultaneously instrumented solitary pumas (Puma concolor, 60 kg, n = 2). We then reconstructed chase paths, speed and turning angle profiles, and energy demands for hounds and pumas to examine performance and physiological constraints associated with cursorial and cryptic hunting modes, respectively. Interaction dynamics revealed how pumas successfully utilized terrain (e.g., fleeing up steep, wooded hillsides) as well as evasive maneuvers (e.g., jumping into trees, running in figure-8 patterns) to increase their escape distance from the overall faster hounds (avg. 2.3× faster). These adaptive strategies were essential to evasion in light of the mean 1.6× higher mass-specific energetic costs of the chase for pumas compared to hounds (mean: 0.76 vs. 1.29 kJ kg(−1) min(−1), respectively). On an instantaneous basis, escapes were more costly for pumas, requiring exercise at ≥90% of predicted [Image: see text] and consuming as much energy per minute as approximately 5 min of active hunting. Our results demonstrate the marked investment of energy for evasion by a large, solitary carnivore and the advantage of dynamic maneuvers to postpone being overtaken by group-hunting canids. PeerJ Inc. 2017-08-17 /pmc/articles/PMC5563439/ /pubmed/28828280 http://dx.doi.org/10.7717/peerj.3701 Text en ©2017 Bryce et al. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) , which permits unrestricted use, distribution, reproduction and adaptation in any medium and for any purpose provided that it is properly attributed. For attribution, the original author(s), title, publication source (PeerJ) and either DOI or URL of the article must be cited. |
spellingShingle | Animal Behavior Bryce, Caleb M. Wilmers, Christopher C. Williams, Terrie M. Energetics and evasion dynamics of large predators and prey: pumas vs. hounds |
title | Energetics and evasion dynamics of large predators and prey: pumas vs. hounds |
title_full | Energetics and evasion dynamics of large predators and prey: pumas vs. hounds |
title_fullStr | Energetics and evasion dynamics of large predators and prey: pumas vs. hounds |
title_full_unstemmed | Energetics and evasion dynamics of large predators and prey: pumas vs. hounds |
title_short | Energetics and evasion dynamics of large predators and prey: pumas vs. hounds |
title_sort | energetics and evasion dynamics of large predators and prey: pumas vs. hounds |
topic | Animal Behavior |
url | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5563439/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28828280 http://dx.doi.org/10.7717/peerj.3701 |
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