Living in a risky world: the onset and ontogeny of an integrated antipredator phenotype in a coral reef fish

• DOI: 10.1038/srep15537
• Publication Date: 2015-10-30T10:02:09Z
• Authors: Maud C.O. Ferrari; Mark I. McCormick; Bridie J. M. Allan; Rebecca Choi; Ryan A. Ramasamy; Jacob L. Johansen; Matthew D. Mitchell; Douglas P. Chivers
• Keywords: Damselfish; Life History Theory

Abstract Prey individuals with complex life-histories often cannot predict the type of risk environment to which they will be exposed at each their life stages. Because level investment in defences should match local conditions, we that these have ability modulate expression an integrated defensive phenotype, but this switch occur key life-history transitions. We manipulated background juvenile damselfish for four days following settlement (a transition) or 10 post-settlement and measured a suite physiological behavioural variables over 2 weeks. found settlement-stage fish high-risk conditions displayed alterations consistent phenotypes, gave them survival advantage when predators. These changes were maintained least The same exposure failed elicit change some traits, while other traits disappeared within week. Our results are those expected from phenotypic resonance. Expression antipredator may masked if not certain ontogenetic