PREDATION RISK AND THE EVOLUTIONARY ECOLOGY OF REPRODUCTIVE-BEHAVIOR

A large literature exists on the effects of predation risk on foraging and survival-related behaviours. In contrast, with some notable exceptions, relatively few theoretical or experimental studies have examined the effects of predation risk on reproductive behaviours. Existing literature on risk and reproductive behaviour and suggestion directions for future study are reviewed. In particular: (1) effects on predation risk on mating behaviour; (2) the influence of spatial patchiness on interactions between risk and reproductive behaviour; (3) the potential influence of multi-species interactions on the effects of predation risk on mating dynamics; (4) the importance of looking at sets of inter-related antipredator traits; and (5) some effects of predation risk on prey population patterns due to changes in prey reproductive behaviour are discussed. To illustrate various points examples involving fish and other aquatic organisms are used.