Prey-predator interactions are one of the key pressures explaining the evolution and adaptation of many traits in organisms, from microorganisms to vertebrates. In a simplified empirical view, predators must consume prey for energy, nutrients, and water while prey must avoid being consumed. These interactions act as a prime driver explaining a myriad of traits from divergence and convergence mechanisms, phenotypic plasticity, to speciation. These predator-prey interactions influence the fitness at different biological levels, from individuals to community structures and dynamics of populations. In a classical view, these interactions elicit mutual adaptations that improve predator success, traits such as morphology (e.g., wings, claws, teeth), physiology (e.g., sensory processing, speed, acceleration, manoeuvrability) as well as prey traits (e.g., predator detection, antipredator behaviour, morphological and chemical repulsion, crypsis, aposematism, mimicry), Improvements occur at the individual level, and the intra- and interspecific group level (e.g., hunting strategy in a predator, the collective response of prey). From the point of view of both the predator and the prey, such adaptive responses to natural stimuli are under complex neuronal and hormonal control, falling into the research areas of neuroethology and neurobiology.
The aim of this collection is to invite a series of articles concerning the neuroethology of predator-prey interactions described at various levels (e.g., descriptive, conceptual, modelling) from the predator and the prey’s points of view. Articles can concern the behaviours of the predator (e.g., foraging, detection, feeding, prey/food consuming) and their prey (e.g., detection, defence, escape), regardless of the organisms studied and their phylogenetic position.
The aim is to try to provide a holistic approach to prey-predator interactions and their neurobiological control, encompassing the various methodological and conceptual approaches used to evaluate them. We welcome all article types that support these aims.
Prey-predator interactions are one of the key pressures explaining the evolution and adaptation of many traits in organisms, from microorganisms to vertebrates. In a simplified empirical view, predators must consume prey for energy, nutrients, and water while prey must avoid being consumed. These interactions act as a prime driver explaining a myriad of traits from divergence and convergence mechanisms, phenotypic plasticity, to speciation. These predator-prey interactions influence the fitness at different biological levels, from individuals to community structures and dynamics of populations. In a classical view, these interactions elicit mutual adaptations that improve predator success, traits such as morphology (e.g., wings, claws, teeth), physiology (e.g., sensory processing, speed, acceleration, manoeuvrability) as well as prey traits (e.g., predator detection, antipredator behaviour, morphological and chemical repulsion, crypsis, aposematism, mimicry), Improvements occur at the individual level, and the intra- and interspecific group level (e.g., hunting strategy in a predator, the collective response of prey). From the point of view of both the predator and the prey, such adaptive responses to natural stimuli are under complex neuronal and hormonal control, falling into the research areas of neuroethology and neurobiology.
The aim of this collection is to invite a series of articles concerning the neuroethology of predator-prey interactions described at various levels (e.g., descriptive, conceptual, modelling) from the predator and the prey’s points of view. Articles can concern the behaviours of the predator (e.g., foraging, detection, feeding, prey/food consuming) and their prey (e.g., detection, defence, escape), regardless of the organisms studied and their phylogenetic position.
The aim is to try to provide a holistic approach to prey-predator interactions and their neurobiological control, encompassing the various methodological and conceptual approaches used to evaluate them. We welcome all article types that support these aims.