Summary: Martín et al. 2009

Predation risk can vary over a broad range of temporal patterns. As a result, prey may have difficulty assessing risk level and making decisions about how to allocate antipredator behaviour (which is costly) across time. Allocation of antipredator behaviour should depend on 1) the potential benefits gained in the short-term, 2) the costs reduced in the long-term and 3) prior experience of predation risk. Martín et al. (2009) tested how Iberian rock lizards, Iberolacerta cyreni, in the laboratory allocate antipredator behaviour over time when exposed to repeated predatory attacks of different intensity and temporal pattern. Through assessment of activity levels, time spent hidden in refugia after an attack and likelihood of hiding when predators are nearby, they found that antipredator responses increased when risk was high, but this depended on the temporal pattern of the associated risk. Prey activity did not change when predation risk was low or random. Martín et al. (2009) suggest that lizards can predict risk level, and modify their behaviour accordingly, when successive attacks have similar risk levels. However, when risk level is random, lizards adopt a conservative strategy and overestimate risk.