Ghosal, Ratna and Venkataraman, Arun (2013) An adaptive system of vigilance in spotted deer (Axis axis) herds in response to predation. In: Current Science, 104 (6). pp. 768-771.
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Abstract
Spotted deer or chital (Axis axis), a major prey species in southern India, lives in large groups. To understand the benefits of group living, we carried out observations on chital herds under natural conditions. Individual and group vigilance showed a negative correlation with herd size, whereas the latter had a positive correlation with proportion of vigilant individuals. Furthermore, individual vigilance was negatively correlated with proportion of individuals vigilant and positively correlated with group vigilance. These results are explained in the context of a three-phase vigilance system, probably operative in the chital herd, under specified ecological conditions. We surmise that this system allows for adaptation to predation risk and has possibly co-evolved with the optimal hunting strategy of the predator.
| Item Type: | Journal Article |
|---|---|
| Publication: | Current Science |
| Publisher: | Indian Academy of Sciences |
| Additional Information: | Copyright of this article belongs to Indian Academy of Sciences. |
| Keywords: | Chital; Co-Evolution; Dhole; Vigilance; Predation |
| Department/Centre: | Division of Biological Sciences > Centre for Ecological Sciences |
| Date Deposited: | 04 Jun 2013 11:55 |
| Last Modified: | 04 Jun 2013 11:55 |
| URI: | http://eprints.iisc.ac.in/id/eprint/46527 |
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