Hamalainen, Liisa, Hoppitt, William, Rowland, Hannah M 
ORCID: 0000-0002-1040-555X, Mappes, Johanna, Fulford, Anthony J, Sosa, Sebastian and Thorogood, Rose
(2021)
Social transmission in the wild can reduce predation pressure on novel prey signals.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS, 12 (1).
3978-.
Abstract
Social transmission of information is taxonomically widespread and could have profound effects on the ecological and evolutionary dynamics of animal communities. Demonstrating this in the wild, however, has been challenging. Here we show by field experiment that social transmission among predators can shape how selection acts on prey defences. Using artificial prey and a novel approach in statistical analyses of social networks, we find that blue tit (Cyanistes caeruleus) and great tit (Parus major) predators learn about prey defences by watching others. This shifts population preferences rapidly to match changes in prey profitability, and reduces predation pressure from naïve predators. Our results may help resolve how costly prey defences are maintained despite influxes of naïve juvenile predators, and suggest that accounting for social transmission is essential if we are to understand coevolutionary processes.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | Animals, Passeriformes, Vocalization, Animal, Predatory Behavior, Social Behavior, Avoidance Learning, Selection, Genetic, Biological Evolution, Remote Sensing Technology, Prunus dulcis, United Kingdom |
| Divisions: | Faculty of Health and Life Sciences Faculty of Health and Life Sciences > Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences |
| Depositing User: | Symplectic Admin |
| Date Deposited: | 20 Jul 2023 09:32 |
| Last Modified: | 20 Jul 2023 14:56 |
| DOI: | 10.1038/s41467-021-24154-0 |
| Open Access URL: | https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-021-24154-0 |
| Related URLs: | |
| URI: | https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3171790 |
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