Die hard: a blend of freezing and fleeing as a dynamic defense--implications for the control of defensive behavior |
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Authors: | Eilam David |
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Affiliation: | Department of Zoology, Tel-Aviv University, Ramat Aviv 69 978, Israel |
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Abstract: | Freezing, fleeing or fighting back are general defensive responses in many taxa. These defenses are mutually exclusive, since a prey cannot simultaneously flee and fight, or freeze and flee. Each of these defenses by itself is rudimentary and probably cannot provide a completely effective means to elude predation. Freezing is efficient only if employed before the prey is spotted by the predator, otherwise the prey becomes a stationary, easy to catch target. In fleeing, the prey can move directly away and maximize its distance from the predator, move toward the predator to confine it to a single clashing point, or dodge sideways to evade the attack. Prey can also run in a straight path that is efficient against slow or distant predators, or in a zigzag path that is efficient when a raptor is close or fast. In all, freezing and fleeing constitute together a complex and flexible defensive response, and are probably controlled by different motor systems that are inter-connected to allow fast switching between these behaviors, as required for an effective and versatile response. |
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Keywords: | Aggressive behavior Defensive behavior Fleeing Freezing Owls Orientation Predation risk Risk assessment Spiny mice Voles |
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