A synthesis of deimatic behaviour

Eleanor Drinkwater; William L Allen; John A Endler; Roger T Hanlon; Grace Holmes; Nicholas T Homziak; Changku Kang; Brian C Leavell; Jussi Lehtonen; Karl Loeffler-Henry; John M Ratcliffe; Candy Rowe; Graeme D Ruxton; Tom N Sherratt; John Skelhorn; Chelsea Skojec; Hannah R Smart; Thomas E White; Jayne E Yack; Catherine M Young; Kate D L Umbers

doi:10.1111/brv.12891

A synthesis of deimatic behaviour

Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc. 2022 Dec;97(6):2237-2267. doi: 10.1111/brv.12891. Epub 2022 Aug 8.

Authors

Eleanor Drinkwater¹, William L Allen², John A Endler³, Roger T Hanlon⁴, Grace Holmes⁵, Nicholas T Homziak^{6

7}, Changku Kang^{8

9

10}, Brian C Leavell¹¹, Jussi Lehtonen^{12

13}, Karl Loeffler-Henry¹⁴, John M Ratcliffe¹⁵, Candy Rowe⁵, Graeme D Ruxton¹⁶, Tom N Sherratt¹⁴, John Skelhorn⁵, Chelsea Skojec^{6

7}, Hannah R Smart¹⁷, Thomas E White¹², Jayne E Yack¹⁴, Catherine M Young¹⁸, Kate D L Umbers^{17

18}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Animal Science, Writtle University College, Writtle, Chelmsford, CM1 3RR, UK.
² Department of Biosciences, Swansea University, Sketty, Swansea, SA2 8PP, UK.
³ Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life & Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, VIC, 3216, Australia.
⁴ Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, MA, 02543, USA.
⁵ Biosciences Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 4HH, UK.
⁶ McGuire Center for Lepidoptera and Biodiversity, Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA.
⁷ Entomology and Nematology Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA.
⁸ Department of Biosciences, Mokpo National University, Muan, Jeollanamdo, 58554, South Korea.
⁹ Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, South Korea.
¹⁰ Department of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, South Korea.
¹¹ Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA.
¹² Faculty of Science, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia.
¹³ Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, 40014, Finland.
¹⁴ Department of Biology, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, K1S 5B6, Canada.
¹⁵ Department of Biology, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, ON, L5L 1C6, Canada.
¹⁶ School of Biology, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, Fife, KY16 9TH, UK.
¹⁷ Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW, 2751, Australia.
¹⁸ School of Science, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW, 2751, Australia.

PMID: 36336882
DOI: 10.1111/brv.12891

Abstract

Deimatic behaviours, also referred to as startle behaviours, are used against predators and rivals. Although many are spectacular, their proximate and ultimate causes remain unclear. In this review we aim to synthesise what is known about deimatic behaviour and identify knowledge gaps. We propose a working hypothesis for deimatic behaviour, and discuss the available evidence for the evolution, ontogeny, causation, and survival value of deimatic behaviour using Tinbergen's Four Questions as a framework. Our overarching aim is to direct future research by suggesting ways to address the most pressing questions in this field.

Keywords: antipredator; aposematism; behaviour; cognition; competition; defence; deimatism; predator; prey; startle.

Publication types

Review
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Animals
Predatory Behavior*

Grants and funding

BB/L017709/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom