Anti predator behaviors: Adaptive behaviors that:

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• Anti predator behaviors Adaptive behaviors that
• Are typically specialized to the details of
  predator prey interaction
• Can be associated with special physiological
  changes
• Typically based on ecological constraints

• Evolutionary principles
• Adaptation a trait that infers (or at one time
  inferred) an advantage
• Convergent evolution The independent evolution
  of a common solution
• Divergent evolution Unique evolutionary
  solutions

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Mobbing behavior does it take a mob to mob?
The purpose of mobbing behavior is to disrupt
predatory action.
Mocking bird mobbing red-tailed hawk
Fairy terns mobbing Black kite
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Mobbing behavior does it take a mob to mob?
Carrion crows will individually mob eurasian
marsh harrier
Eurasian marsh harriers prey on carrion crows
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Other parental behaviors that disrupt predatory
action. Ptarmigans, like many birds will fain
injuries and lead predators away from the nest
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The evolution of mobbing behavior

• Could mobbing behavior have evolved
• before gulls split from other bird taxa?
• as a non social parental defense trait that
  emerges as a mob act under conditions of
  expression in flocking species?

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Does mobbing behavior provide an advantage?
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Cryptic behavior If you cant see it you cant
eat it
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The evolution of specialized structural
adaptations still requires adaptive behavior to
pull off the illusion
moths resembles a dead leafs on the forest
simulated leaf veins running through
wingtips Moths also must be selective of where
they hide and how they orient.
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The evolution of specialized structural
adaptations still requires adaptive behavior to
pull off the illusion
The motionless twig caterpillar shown here
(courtesy of Muriel V. Williams) complete with
"buds" and "lenticels" escapes detection by
birds.
In the lowland rain forest of the Peruvian
Amazon, "bird dropping caterpillar.
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The evolution of specialized structural
adaptations still requires adaptive behavior to
pull off the illusion
Cryptic mimicry in the katydid
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Cryptic coloration and behaviors in
amphibians/reptilians
How Many animals in these pictures?
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Cryptic coloration and behaviors in Fishes
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Advertising bad food quality Bright colors
elaborate decor

• The caterpillar of an Io moth has sharp and toxic
  urticating spines. The spines are called
• Such honest signaling is an alternative to
  mimicry.

The Io moth as an adult reverts to eyespots on
its hind wings, which it displays when
threatened.
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Golden poison frog
Come on I dare you!
Phantasmal poison frog
Yellow-banded Poison Frog
Blue poison frog
Red spotted arrow frog
Dyeing poison frog
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Batesian Mimicry in insects False advertising
Batesian mimicry Cryptic imposters This
edible insect nymph assumes the fraudulent guise
of a stinging ant in both appearance and behavior.
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Batesian mimicry in moth larvae
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Camouflage
Decorator crabs place chemically defended
seaweeds on their backs, attaching them via
hooked setae on their carapace. This strategy
works to reduce predation because this seaweed is
distasteful to omnivorous consumers that eat both
seaweeds and small invertebrates like crabs
But dont eat it
Like to wear it
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Camo its not just for prey!
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Camo its not just for prey!

• A scorpionfish lies immobile on a coral reef.
• Its crypsis serves to keep it hidden from prey.

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mimicry its not just for prey either!
Mimicry in predators Some carnivores have evolved
devices with which they mimic prey (or potential
mate) of other (usually smaller) predators. They
use these devices as lures.
The angler fish (Antennarius) displays a lure
resembling a small fish. The lure is a
development of the spine of the first dorsal fin.
This species of anglerfish, which was found in
the Philippines, is 9.5 cm long. Note its use of
camouflage its texture (and color) closely
resemble the sponge- and algae-encrusted rocks
found in its habitat.