Automated escape system: identifying prey's kinematic and behavioral features critical for predator evasion

Abstract

ABSTRACT Identifying the kinematic and behavioral variables of prey that influence evasion from predator attacks remains challenging. To address this challenge, we have developed an automated escape system that responds quickly to an approaching predator and pulls the prey away from the predator rapidly, similar to real prey. Reaction distance, response latency, escape speed and other variables can be adjusted in the system. By repeatedly measuring the response latency and escape speed of the system, we demonstrated the system's ability to exhibit fast and rapid responses while maintaining consistency across successive trials. Using the live predatory fish species Coreoperca kawamebari, we show that escape speed and reaction distance significantly affect the outcome of predator–prey interactions. These findings indicate that the developed escape system is useful for identifying kinematic and behavioral features of prey that are critical for predator evasion, as well as for measuring the performance of predators.