A cross-taxonomic explanatory framework for mobbing behavior

TL;DR

This paper introduces a framework to explain mobbing behavior by considering prey, predator, and environmental factors across different species.

Contribution

The paper proposes a novel cross-taxonomic framework integrating multiple factors to explain mobbing behavior.

Findings

Mobbing behavior is influenced by interactions between prey, predator, and environmental factors.

The framework encourages systematic study of mobbing across diverse species and ecological contexts.

The paper highlights the need for further research to understand the conditions under which mobbing is effective.

Abstract

Mobbing is an important antipredator strategy wherein prey approach harass and attack nonhunting predators, using conspicuous stereotyped movements and/or vocalizations. This behavior can reduce current and future threats of predation. In this paper, we aim to provide a framework that integrates prey, predator, and environmental factors, to illuminate how multiple factors and their interactions can explain mobbing propensity. We hope to encourage targeted and systematic investigation into the ecology and evolution of mobbing by focusing on an integrated view on life history, social, and ecological conditions, and a broader taxonomic spread of investigations. By incorporating a broader view of an animal's ecology, we can better understand the tradeoff that individuals experience when deciding to engage in mobbing, and by examining this behavior across different species, life-histories, ecologies, and communities, we can better understand the larger ecological contexts in which mobbing is an effective strategy as opposed to when it is not. Finally, we highlight some other areas we feel need further investigation to advance our understanding of mobbing.

Mobbing occurs when prey harass predators, typically noisily and with others. The behavior is studied most in birds but found in many species from mammals to bacteria. It is currently poorly understood why only some animals mob. We propose three factors, and their interactions, critical to determining if mobbing is a likely response to a predator: prey factors (e.g. social or solitary), predator factors (e.g., specialist or generalist), and environmental factors (e.g., season).

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