Abstract The landscape of fear model predicts prey behavior based on the presence and movement of predators. Yet, other environmental cues, such as safety, may also play a role in prey behavior. To test whether safety cues and fear cues influence prey behavior, we observed the sheltering choices and duration of the crayfish Faxonius rusticus (Girard, 1852) when directly exposed to a predator (largemouth bass, Micropterus nigricans Cuvier, 1828). Since bass are gape-limited predators, we varied the gape ratio between the size of the crayfish and size of the bass to alter threat level. We also provided shelters with a different number of openings as crayfish prefer shelters with less access points. As gape ratio between the crayfish and the M. nigricans increased, the amount of time that the crayfish spent in shelter also increased. There was nevertheless no significant difference in which particular shelter was used. Crayfish preferred shelters with lower numbers of openings when a predator was present compared to when a predator was absent. Our research suggests that there is an influence on behavior from both fear and safety cues, and to obtain a more accurate prediction of predator avoidance behavior both fear and safety cues must be included.
Stopjik et al. (Wed,) studied this question.