Identical species populations can differ behaviorally due to local predator pressure

Evidence

A recent study conducted by Thomas et al. (2003) on the response of robins (Erithacus rubecula) during nighttime playback of conspecific songs shows a quite interesting pattern: two populations of robins (Irish and Welsh) responded differently to nocturnal playback experiments. The Irish population rarely reacted to playback, but the Irish birds were reactive to playback stimulus. The unexpected difference between these two populations is not found during the day. The differences in nocturnal playback response must be explained excluding the intensity of illumination or air temperature. An explanation can be found in the different predatory pressures of these two populations in Ireland and Wales. In Wales, the long-eared owl (Asio otus) is common and diffuse but in Ireland it is rare, and we know that this predator localizes, as does every nocturnal predator, their prey by ear. This study demonstrates how prudence must be used to plan playback experiments because of unexpected differences in interpopulation behavior. — Almo Farina, Soundscape Ecology, 673

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: A predator’s mere potential presence shapes the behavior of an entire ecosystem. — Aldo Leopold, A Sand County Almanac: With Other…, 507; Sympatric species diverge their calls to prevent hybridization — Almo Farina, Soundscape Ecology: Principles,…, 496; Predator pressure shapes prey behavior as much as prey appearance. — Emlen, Douglas J, Animal Weapons_ The Evolution of Battle, 44 (+2 more)

Broader Connections

• Predator pressure shapes prey behavior as much as prey appearance. #corroborates (0.85) — Emlen, Douglas J, Animal Weapons_ The Evolution of Battle, 44
• Predation pressure drives camouflage and mimicry inside the moss forest too #exemplifies (0.80) — Robin Wall Kimmerer, Gathering Moss, 263