Journal article 1352 views
Mass enhances speed but diminishes turn capacity in terrestrial pursuit predators
Rory Wilson 
,
Iwan Griffiths,
Michael GL Mills,
Chris Carbone,
John W Wilson,
David M Scantlebury
,
Iwan Griffiths,
Michael GL Mills,
Chris Carbone,
John W Wilson,
David M Scantlebury
eLife, Volume: 4
Swansea University Authors:
Rory Wilson , Iwan Griffiths
Full text not available from this repository: check for access using links below.
DOI (Published version): 10.7554/eLife.06487
Abstract
The dynamics of predator-prey pursuit appears complex, making the development of a framework explaining predator and prey strategies problematic. We develop a model for terrestrial, cursorial predators to examine how animal mass modulates predator and prey trajectories and affects best strategies fo...
| Published in: | eLife |
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| ISSN: | 2050-084X |
| Published: |
2015
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| Online Access: |
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| URI: | https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa22964 |
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| Abstract: |
The dynamics of predator-prey pursuit appears complex, making the development of a framework explaining predator and prey strategies problematic. We develop a model for terrestrial, cursorial predators to examine how animal mass modulates predator and prey trajectories and affects best strategies for both parties. We incorporated the maximum speed-mass relationship with an explanation of why larger animals should have greater turn radii; the forces needed to turn scale linearly with mass whereas the maximum forces an animal can exert scale to a 2/3 power law. This clarifies why in a meta-analysis, we found a preponderance of predator/prey mass ratios that minimized the turn radii of predators compared to their prey. It also explained why acceleration data from wild cheetahs pursuing different prey showed different cornering behaviour with prey type. The outcome of predator prey pursuits thus depends critically on mass effects and the ability of animals to time turns precisely. |
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| Item Description: |
Copyright Wilson et al. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use and redistribution provided that the original author and source are credited. |
| Keywords: |
Mass, pursuit, predator, prey, motion |
| College: |
Faculty of Science and Engineering |